יום ד Date: 6 Adar, 5775 (2/25/15) – Kesuvos#23 {Eliezer}

REALISTIC REALITIES

[23b bottom] Mishna: If an individual testifies about himself that he is a Kohen, we do not accept him as a Kohen only based on his word alone.
RambaM: Even though we do not permit him to eat Terumah (Kohanic food), we still do apply all Kohanic prohibitions on this individual (because of his self-testimony). Additionally, if he violates a Kohanic prohibition (ie: marrying a divorcee or entering into a into cemetery) the Jewish court would administer lashes upon him.
Ramak: From our point of view, we do not believe him, but since his of view is reality is altered (as evidenced by his testimony), he becomes accountable from his perspective.

D-E-ep Thoughts: The world can become extremely confusing when we try to examine it from black and white perspectives. Even when two opinions are seemingly diametrically opposite to each other, we know they can both exist in reality. There is not one “correct” opinion with the other being “wrong.” Since the physical world is created through the spiritual realness, it does not have to abide by definite boundaries [as we know the space surrounding the ark in the holy of holies was equal to the exact dimensions of the room itself, so the ark itself literally was standing between it, but in existence also took up no absolute space]. We must never be too constrained by what we are used to or taught in the secular world, and remember that we are a nation that feels most natural in the super-natural realm.