Chinuch (Mishpatim # 71) Not to Curse a leader. It is from the roots of the commandment that it is because it is impossible for the settlement of people without their making one of them head over the others, to do his command and fulfill his decrees. As the opinions of people are different and they will never all agree to one opinion — to do one thing from among the many things. And from this, the result will be idleness and a cessation of actions. And therefore they need to accept the opinion of one of them — whether it is good or whether it is bad — so that they will be successful and be involved in the business of the world, sometimes finding great benefit from his will and counsel and sometimes finding the opposite. And all of this is better than disagreement which causes complete idleness. And since the one appointed as head is the cause for the benefit that we said — whether he is big in leading us in the ways of religion or whether he is big in the kingdom to guard a man from his neighbor that is more powerful than he — the matter is fitting and proper that we not treat his honor lightly, and also that we not curse him. We should not do this even not in front of him, and all the more so not in front of witnesses; as a bad habit that a person accustoms himself to do by himself will in the end become his action in public. And we have already [talked about] the great loss that comes because of disagreement.
No one argues about cursing.
ReplyDeleteIt's that the prohibition extended to criticizing and then to even simply questioning that's the problem.
Actually the Chinuch uses the same argument to justify listening to Gedolim even when they are wrong. It seems you like this approach for secular leaders like Trump but not for religious leaders. The point is this is a rejected minority view
DeleteRav Nota Schiller ztl gave a talk in ohr someach many years ago, then repeated to me privately, that we have to perfect our intellects and middot, and then become a critic of our leaders.
DeleteI don't remember if he gave a source but I'm assuming it was ruach hachaim?
No. Stop.
DeleteThe most evil regimes in history have built systems that 100% match what you are saying about The Gedolim(tm). Do not question them. You don't have the intelligence. You don't have the middos. You must follow them and obey their every word without question because if you do question then you are a disloyal heretic.
Something like 25 years ago there was a blog post that went around, "Daas Torah vs Daas Hedyot" in which all the major events to affect the Jewish world were listed. In every case where Daas Torah and Daas Hedyot disagreed, Daas Hedyot was right and following Daas Torah lead to terrible consequences. Sometimes it was the destruction of communities. Sometimes it was condemning people to live in poverty and misery. And sometiems it led to millions dying in Holocaust. But Daas Torah's only response to that was "How dare you question us!"
Nope.