Halachic Hashkafa

Halacha and Hashkafa are two major areas of Torah and can be used to analyze almost any topic of Torah, whether it be an everyday activity or an obscure scenario that will never occur in the history of the world. The perspective of Halacha and the lens of Hashkafa are complementary and reinforce one another. Both are Torah and important to incorporate into one's observance of mitzvot.

1. Is there is halacha in the area of hashkafa? Is it possible to have a definitive ruling or law when it comes to values, perspectives of the world, and other hashkafic issues? The answer is rather complex with multiple answers and apply differently in different areas.
   1. Rav Soloveitchik (cited by Mepeninei HaRav p. 206) said that a person shouldn't say that Hashfaka isn't halacha. There are halacha's when it comes to Hashkafa, there are permitted and forbidden things to think and value.
   2. Rav Aryeh Kaplan in (The Age of the Universe p. 4) writes how there are no definitive rulings when it comes to hashkafa, that is why the Rambam was able to hold like minority opinions in hashkafa.
   3. Rabbi Yosef Bechhofer (RJJ Journal n. 67) analyzed this issue. He points out that clearly this is halachic rulings on fundamental beliefs and issues of hashkafa with halachic ramifications. However, pure hashkafa is

Hashkafic Issues

• Use of Internet
• Interaction with the Outside World
• Study of Secular Wisdom
• Parnasa
• Living in Eretz Yisrael
• Learning in Kollel as an Individual and as a Community

Halachic-Hashkafic Issues

• Daas Torah
• The Rambam's 13 Ikarim (Belief in God, Prophecy, and Freewill)

Middot Issues

• Seriousness and Laughter
• Perfectionism and Optimalism
• Happiness and Depression
• Patience and Anger
• Haughtiness and Humility

Mussar Issues

• Point of Man in this World
• Vigilance
• Purity
• Chasidut