Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.10) Question: Is there an obligation to have competent Poskim for all Issues? Is there an obligation of yeshiva students to acknowledge the importance of practical halacha? Answer There is definitely an inherent part of the mitzva of Torah study to know how to make proper rulings and this obligation applies in general to the Jewish people in ever generation so that there be many great scholars that know the entire Torah including how to make proper ruling even on issues that are not relevant to their time - even matters of Kodshim and Taharos as we see from the Rambam who discusses Kadshim, Pigul, Taharos, Kiddush HaChodesh, Kings and Sanhedrin. However in reality this obligation is fulfilled only by a small number of people who can be considered Torah scholars. It is thus necessary to determine who actually has this obligation. It is clearly on certain yeshiva students who are recognized for their great abilities that they must realize this great obligation. That is why I have written about the prohibition of secular studies for yeshiva students even if not involving heresy or coed education. All their time and energy needs to be devoted to becoming great in Torah and not be concerned with parnossa
An obligation that has not been fulfilled
ReplyDeleteI wrote about this decades ago. You need a structured system. Just like a person with chest pain first goes to the Family Doctor or Emergency Room and not to the top cardiology in the country, a person with a question goes to the local Rav and if he can handle it, great. If not, the Rav contacts his Rav to get help.
ReplyDeleteFor that to work, you need a class of rabbonim with a comprehensive knowledge of halacha in all common areas of daily life and for The Gedodlim(tm) to ask "Did you ask your Rav before you called me?"
The problem is that they are not competent. There are many people who call themselves rabbis who make ridiculous statements, often misunderstand the sources, and make up their own nonsense and pass it off as halacha.
DeleteYes, the same problem with some doctors. The hope is that with standard training, some ethical sense and common sense, that doesn't happen.
DeleteWhen Jonathan sacks was chief rabbi in England, in the 90s he made a chiddush - that the post of rabbi should be as prestigious as being a doctor or lawyer.
DeleteI thought it was wrong intuitive ly. The problem is that a) that's actually how it was for centuries anyway.
B) it's the opposite of what it says in Avot, to hate the rabbanut.
C) it's only going to produce baalei gaavah, not competent poskim
As with doctors, there's a risk of ego. A good doctor knows his limits, knows when to ask for help and knows that there, but for the grace of Heaven, goes he. So he treats the patient respectfully and gives serious thought to the condition.
DeleteBut there are too many doctors who aren't good, they're the best and the Mishna tells us where they wind up.
It's the same (or should be) with rabbonim -respect by the lay person for the authority invested in him and respect by the rav for the questioner needing his services.
Every Rav should have a gitten expert, a ribbit / heter-iska expert, and a (real, not fake) toain expert. Few do, though they sometimes try to do it themselves.
DeleteRav Hershel Schachter has a whole rant against the concept of to'en. He points out that it has no real basis in halakha and actually goes against the concept of how the ba'alei din are supposed to show up, each tell their side of the story and let the judges decide the case. There's no role for someone to show up and try to convince the judges with halakhic arguments.
DeleteAll's fair in love and war.
DeleteHe is assuming that 2 sides have equal knowledge of halacha. Which is not always true
All's fair in love and war.
DeleteHe is assuming that 2 sides have equal knowledge of halacha. Which is not always true
Rav Moshe often writes in Igrot Moshe that I assume you already asked Rav so-and-so in your town.
ReplyDelete