Comments on: Authority

By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:50:35 +0000

Rav Moshe was about equally accepted universally in the Chareidi world as Rav Elyashiv is currently. Even Rav Moshe in his lifetime had disagreements with contemporary Chareidi poskim (Satmar Rebbe, Rav Henkin, etc.) and Rav Moshe’s word was not necessarily the final say across the Chareidi spectrum.

Nevertheless, then as now, it is correct to state as Rav Pruzansky indicated, that Chareidim have a “final, ultimate authority” in a very strong (although not entirely) sense.

By: Abe

Abe — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:06:28 +0000

Black Hat Judiasm is Avodah Zara. Modern Judiasm is Avodah Zara. Both distort the essense of Tzniut and Sinat Chinum. Good Luck Jews! All thats left is to learn torah, be a mench and PRAY for salvation. And Chabad is todays form of early Christianity…….the one movement that understood what Hillel make very clear in responseto their movement…….Love your neighbor (and stop being arrogant and corrupt!)

By: Israeli Perspective

Israeli Perspective — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:55:24 +0000

No more harsh than recognizing the impossible Obama budget is also primarily a product if organizational design flaw rather than ideology. Until American Judaism addressesses the invisible elephant present since the death of R Jacob Joseph de jure, and Ravs Henkin, Feinstein and Soloveitick de facto, the organizational flaw guarantees scandal after scandal and chaos. As you describe, no legal system can exist without district court oversight and an appeals process. That is parshat Yitro.

By: chaim

chaim — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:57:20 +0000

Let me add my voice to what others have said, I’m not sure there is a recognized right wing American Posek. Certainly not one with the stature of R’ Moshe. He was universally accepted my most of the misnagdic world RW LW MO and all other O. The chassidim did not share that view entirely.

I believe that sociologically the longevity of many of the European/American gedolim stunted the development of American Poskim. In addition the demographic growth and the impetus for minor rabbinic figures to denigrate other Orthodox streams has fragmented American orthodoxy so no one is widely accepted.

Rabbi Hershel Schachter has several times been heard to lament, that even within YU, talmidim think their rav is the only one with the proper answers.

Certainly, this should be or is the case where there is a new Yeshiva Gedolah with a new Rosh Yeshiva opens every year.

On top of that the LOR is disrespected in favor of the Rosh Yeshiva and the Rosh Yeshiva only is followed by his group of talmidim. There is no central authority.

It is depressing. A lot of it reminds me of kids talking baseball — Mickey Mantle vs. Willie Mays vs. Duke Snider. — my godol is greater than your godol.

By: Rabbi

Rabbi — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:38:01 +0000

A tad harsh, don’t you think ?

By: mitch

mitch — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Very good piece and as someone who grew up in Boston under the Rav’s hashpa’ah, i too lament the lack of a posek that the MO world can universally accept. Your point that some of the blame falls on the populus is very valid, but i also wonder if there is a lack of Torah leader in the MO world who is touching the soul of the rabim. i appreciated R. Lamm’s writings and machshava and likewise support many of the works and efforts of Lord Rabbi Sacks… but neither of them enjoy universal support or anything close to that.
on a differnent note where you ID R. Saul Lieberman, tz’l. It is a curiosity to me why more of the MO world continues to slam the door shut on the UTJ, when it is evident from their piskei halakha that they have moved to the “right” of where they started 20 yrs ago. My impression is where YCT has tried to challenge the boundries of halakha, the UTJ has seen the errors of the C Movement and has moved from a “change” mentality.

By: shmuel

shmuel — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:24:29 +0000

ModO generally ask their shailos of their LOR (local Orthodox rabbi) as was done in klall yisroel for 1000s of years. The LOR rabbis generally recognize their abilities and limitations and ask their shailos to their rebbeim and roshei yeshiva.
The problem is that there are some LOR who dont recognize (or deny) their limitations and will push the envelope of modernity.
Truth be told there is no paucity of Charedi and yeshivishe LO maarei dasra who also exceed their abilities and competency both l’chumra and l’kulah.

By: Rabbi

Rabbi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:02:18 +0000

Additionally, there are legitimate machlokot among poskim that are not necessarily resolved by an “ultimate” authority. But that does not mean in an individual’s life he cannot designate someone as an “authority” – but that is much less common in the ModO world where “psak shopping” is de riguer for those who even ask she’elot.