How do people decide which leniences and rabbis to follow? For example, I know about the whole chalav yisroel thing and I do not intend to get in a discussion, it is just an example. Rabbi Moshe Feinstien said that chalav stam was mutur in the United States and there are many people who follow that opinion. But what about other things that Reb Moshe said? Like I heard that he said it was Assur to listen to any type of music, even Jewish. Regardless if that is true or not, my point is, how can people just pick and choose their leniancies with food? Like I could follow the Chofetz Chaim or Gra on certain things and then be lenient with something like Mikva or something.
Which Rabbi do you poskin by?
Started by
shifpifer1
, Nov 13 2011 05:26 PM
9 replies to this topic
#2
Rabbi Shapiro
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Posted 24 November 2011 - 10:19 AM
Well, first, Rav Moshe didn't exactly say that. He said it was permitted in a case of dire need - בשעת הדחק - to use plain milk. He said specifically that he did not mean his heter to be used unless there are strenuous circumstances. See Igros Moshe YD 4:5.
But the answer to your question is, you need to be a Talmid Chacham in order to determine what leniencies you may or should follow in which circumstances. It's like asking how you know which doctor to follow when some say you can eat such-and-such and others say it is very unhealthy. Paskening a shailah is a professional skill that takes years of training, and even then there are, like there are in all fields, those who are better at it than others.
Imagine someone just taking the allowances of every health professional they can find. Not a good idea. Same thing with Rabbanim. Only with Rabbanim it's more difficult, because there's no FDA or oversight organization to help you.
So the answer is עשה לך רב - you need a competent Rav who is a Talmid Chacham to do this for you. And choose the Rav based on his competency and Torah skills and not because he paskens the way you would like to go. That would be like choosing a doctor based on the fact that his opinion allows you to do what you want - you're only fooling yourself. You want to choose a doctor based on his medical skills, knowledge and honesty, and you want to choose a rabbi the same way.
But the answer to your question is, you need to be a Talmid Chacham in order to determine what leniencies you may or should follow in which circumstances. It's like asking how you know which doctor to follow when some say you can eat such-and-such and others say it is very unhealthy. Paskening a shailah is a professional skill that takes years of training, and even then there are, like there are in all fields, those who are better at it than others.
Imagine someone just taking the allowances of every health professional they can find. Not a good idea. Same thing with Rabbanim. Only with Rabbanim it's more difficult, because there's no FDA or oversight organization to help you.
So the answer is עשה לך רב - you need a competent Rav who is a Talmid Chacham to do this for you. And choose the Rav based on his competency and Torah skills and not because he paskens the way you would like to go. That would be like choosing a doctor based on the fact that his opinion allows you to do what you want - you're only fooling yourself. You want to choose a doctor based on his medical skills, knowledge and honesty, and you want to choose a rabbi the same way.
#3
shifpifer1
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Posted 26 November 2011 - 08:28 PM
I understand that for me, I have to find a Rav who is good who I can ask questions. I totally get it. This may be too blunt, but how can a Rav tell someone to do an avayra? Like, why is it okay if a Rabbi said to someone to uncover their hair and call themselves following a "lenient" opinion b/c they are "modern orthodox". Thats wrong, and where do these types of Rabbis get their sources for things that are totally halacha? Should we just daven that our brothers see the "light" someday or are they not as wrong as I think they are and there leniences? Like where are the TRUE leniences, not these stupid ones that don't exist.
#4
Rabbi Shapiro
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Posted 27 November 2011 - 11:30 AM
You are right. The rabbi has no right to do that. You always have to have a Halachic basis for psak, both l'kulah and l'chumrah. Being "Modern Orthodox" is not a heter for anything.If you know of a rabbi that does such a thing, you should stay away from him.Like, why is it okay if a Rabbi said to someone to uncover their hair and call themselves following a "lenient" opinion b/c they are "modern orthodox".
Yes. Unless we are talking about Apikorsim. Them we do not consider our brothers and we pray that they disappear.Should we just daven that our brothers see the "light" someday
Your question is too generic for me to give a single answer because you are not explaining who you mean exactly by "they." However, if you mean someone like in the example you mentioned who would give a heter for married women to not cover their hair without any Halachic basis but simply because that's how the people who refer to themselves with a ceratin label act, then they are indeed as wrong as you think. More wrong, in fact, because if someone takes an aveirah and institutionalizes it, saying "This is what our community does", then he is making the Aveirah much worse. Someone who sins even brazenly but knows he is doing something wrong is much better than someone who says he does not even need to avoid the sin.or are they not as wrong as I think they are and there leniences? Like where are the TRUE leniences, not these stupid ones that don't exist.
משל למה הדבר דומה - Someone is standing in court in front of the judge to defend himself against a speeding ticket he was given. If he says "I was speeding and I have no excuse, I just wanted to get home early," he is 100% guilty. Maybe the judge will have mercy on him, and maybe not.
But if someone says "Judge, I was speeding because I don't believe there is anything wrong with it. I disagree with the speed limit." that is much worse. That person is not guilty of speeding; he is guilty of revolting against the law. I can't see any judge doing anything to such a person but throwing the book at him, and more if he can.
So too if someone gives into his Yezter Horah and doesn't cover her hair, she is guilty. But if you say that you don't need to cover your hair not because of any legitimate Halachic reason, but simply because your community whoever it may be doesn't cover their hair, or you as a person do not believe it is necessary, maybe because you believe that you are "dressing tzniusdik enough already," then you are guilty of a much worse Aveirah than not covering your hair. You are rebelling against the Torah's authority, disagreeing with the very requirement that we follow the Torah. That is not just a violation of Tznius. That is Kefirah.
#6
Rabbi Shapiro
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Posted 25 October 2012 - 02:55 PM
Yes, provided you tell the second Posek that you already asked the first Posek and the Psak he gave you.Is it permissible to ask a second posek a shaila that you already got a psak from a different rabbi (on the same shaila)?
#8
Rabbi Shapiro
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Posted 29 October 2012 - 06:37 PM
That's like going to a medical doctor because you know his opinion is that what you are doing is not unhealthy, as opposed to other doctors who say it is. There's nothing illegal about that, but that's not a wise way of taking care of your health. Instead of finding a doctor that says what you want, you should look for the best quality medical advice. Going to a doctor, even a qualified one, because you like what he says, doesn't make much medical sense.
Same thing with Poskim.
Same thing with Poskim.
