TOWARD A SOCIOLOGY OF "PSAK"

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This article is entitled, "Toward a Sociology of Psak," for several reasons. One is to emphasize its tentative nature. Rather than definitive, it is intended to be suggestive, both in terms of the realm of the subject matter and any and all specific issues which the article raises.

Secondly, it is by no means exhaustive. Rather, it points to a variety of areas and issues which might well belong in a sociology of psak, butclearly there are many others which have not even touched upon. Hopefully, this article wil stimulate further deliberation which will lead tobroader and deeper analyses of the entire area. Ideally, a sociology of psak should include, as a beginning, an analysis of the role of the social in psak,such as the role of social conditions in the determination of halakhah; the social factors which influence who is viewed as the posek, in general and in particular; and an analysis of which segments in the community are likely to seek out psak and from whom