Chidush

Chidush (Hebrew: חִדּוּשׁ‎; also transliterated as chiddush, hiddush or hidush), sometimes used in its plural form, chidushim (Hebrew: חִדּוּשׁים‎), is a novel interpretation or approach to something.[1] It is widely used in rabbinic literature[2][3] to describe a form of innovation that is made inside the system of the halakha, as distinguished from shinuy, an innovation outside tradition.[4]

Etymology

Chidush comes from the Hebrew root word chadash (Hebrew: חדש‎), meaning new. The usage of the word in this context originated from the language of Talmudic analysis and argumentation in the Gemara.[5] It passed into Yiddish, where it is at times used informally.

In rabbinic literature

Nachmanides states[6] that it is an "obligation imposed upon us to search through the subjects of the Torah and the precepts and bring to light their hidden contents."[7]

Significance of chidush

New ways to recall what we learn can be a form of chidush.[8]

Although "any chiddush (novel idea) which a reputable disciple will ever come up with was already given to Moses by Sinai,"[9] in one rabbi's understanding of a particular ruling, he wrote: "I have always understood Rabbi Feinstein to be insisting on a balance between innovation and tradition.[10]

There is also a difference between issuing a ruling, meaning to "distinguish the case at hand from the precident... to solve a problem,[10]:footnotes 4 & 5 and an understanding of something. Even in the latter case, he writes "What Rabbi Feinstein means is that one should not be innovative (mechadesh) just to innovate.

Although it is a Torah command for Kohanim to bless the people, there might be a chidush whether it is obligatory upon those who are not Kohanim to make themselves available to receive these blessings.[11]

Can always be new? Psalm (27:4) has King David asking that "dwell.. and visit.." Which is it? Rabbi Yissocher Frand explains the experience as "The Pitfall of Consistency: Been There, Done That."[12]

This question is so important that it is a notable part of what many add to the daily prayer service, "twice daily from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Shemini Atzeret."[13]

Forms of chidush

There is more than one type of chidush.

Nutrikon

One form is called Nutrikon.[14]

Shabbat (שַׁבָּת), the Sabbath, is a day of rest. The word is spelled with 3 Hebrew letters.
The Nutrikon of the three word phrase "Shayna b'Shabbat Taanug" (שינה בשבת תענוג) (translation: "(Extra) Sleep on Shabbat is considered a Delight!") spells Shabbat (שַׁבָּת).[15][16]
By itself it might seem like at best a minor chidush. When published amidst a collection of many other such 3-word phrases about the day of rest, the title has justified use of the plural form: chidushim.

Gimatria

Another is finding a Gimatria.

Lechadesh (to renew)

The above term[17] points to a need for something "old" to be seen in a new light.[18]

In titles of books

Titles of books may use the word. Example: The work known as Chidushei HaRim. The Hebrew word chidushei is in the possessive form, and means chidushim of.

Some typical choices are:

Some examples are

Early authors

Among the first post-Geonic writers of chidushim[7]:pp.465–466 are:

Later usage

By the late sixteenth century, with printing an established technology, hair-splitting distinctions into the treatment of halakic-Talmudic themes became more frequent,[21] with chidush-driven works such as those by:

Contemporary general use

Chidush has become one of the well known Yiddish words assimilated into American English.[23] In its regular use, it means an unusual or innovative idea or point,[24][5] though the word is also commonly used in an ironic or humorous fashion, so as to imply that the statement in question is nothing new.

Influence

The word novellae is noted in a widely used online dictionary as being a Latin word, and the first definition under Noun is:
novellae f pl
1. Novel thoughts or interpretations. Usually associated with Jewish commentaries, it may refer to any novel interpretation of a venerated text.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Olitzky, Kerry; Isaacs, Ronald (May 1996). A Glossary of Jewish Life. Jason Aronson. ISBN 978-1568219653.
  2. ↑ Levi, Leo (November 1990). "Chidush (Innovation)". Torah Study: A Survey of Classic Sources on Timely Issues (1st ed.). ALPHA. ISBN 978-0873065559.
  3. ↑ Blech, Benjamin (September 2003). "Chapter 9: The Later Voices of Judaism". The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism (2nd ed.). Feldheim. ISBN 978-1592571314.
  4. ↑ Sinclair, Rabbi Julian. "Chiddush", The Jewish Chronicle, November 5, 2008. Accessed January 31, 2017. "Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (1903-93) distinguishes between chiddush, innovation within a tradition, and shinui, change which represents a sharp break from tradition. In Rabbi Soloveitchik's view, chiddush is an aspect of imitatio Dei (imitation of God). Through it we become creative partners with God in the unfolding of the Torah's meanings. On the other hand, shinui, which is not deeply rooted in traditional knowledge, risks becoming subjective and arbitrary."
  5. 1 2 Glinert, Lewis (November 1993). The Joys of Hebrew. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195086683.
  6. ↑ in his Sefer HaMilhamot
  7. 1 2 Encyclopaedia Judaica. Jerusalem Israel: Keter Publishing House Ltd. 1972.
  8. ↑ "Parshas Ki Savo". talks of tapes, CDs, notebooks summarized with indexes, indexes of accumulated notebooks, folders, "files on computers."
  9. ↑ Silberberg, Naftali. "How Is the Torah Interpreted?". Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  10. 1 2 Broyde, Michael J. "The Role of Chiddush: The View of One Paragraph in Iggerot Moshe ...". Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  11. ↑ Friedman, Ephraim. "The Role of the Yisroel" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-02-08. "One of the G’dolei Achronim who introduces this concept is the Hafloah (Rav Pinchas Horowitz zt’l, Rebi of the Chasam Sofer) in his chidushim to Meseches Kesuvos 24b. He maintains, that although the Torah is only explicit in commanding the Kohanim to deliver the brochos, since the mitzva can not be performed without the participation of the Yisroelim
  12. ↑ "Rabbi Frand on Parshas Pinchas". Retrieved 2007-02-08.
  13. ↑ "Elul - L'David". Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  14. ↑ an example of such usage is the statement "Baal HaTurim takes the word and makes it an acronym (NUTRIKON) for ..." (http:www.ttidbits.com/908/908.txt)."
  15. ↑ source: Dayan I. Grunfeld
  16. ↑ "Remember the Day of Shabbat". Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  17. ↑ as used by a discussion group, discussing Mesillat Yesharim
  18. ↑ From Mishnat Rebi Aharon 1:203 within http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/28738/what-is-the-importance-of-chiddush
  19. ↑ a Hebrew web site: ww.doviddebresser.info/Chiddushim.html
  20. ↑ https://www.kedem-auctions.com/.../manuscript-chidushim-rabbi-shimon-shkop-–-tracta...
  21. 1 2 3 Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906, Public Domain. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
  22. ↑ not to be confused with MaHaRam of Rottenberg
  23. ↑ "Professor to speak on Yiddish’s influence on the English language". Jewish News - Your Community Weekly Serving Greater Phoenix & Northern Arizona. 30 November 2016. Sarah Bunin Benor, associate professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and adjunct associate professor of linguistics at the University of Southern California, will speak on 'Chutzpah to Chidush: A Century of Yiddish-Influenced English in America'
  24. ↑ Pava, Moses (April 2003). Leading With Meaning: Using Covenantal Leadership to Build a Better Organization. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1403961327.
  25. ↑ "novella".
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