Joseph
Member
cantoresq:
1 & 2. I understood notpashut to mean that the information YOU heard on the grapevine about how the Gedolim treated any certain matter (R’ Lamm, Schmeltzer, etc.) is just that; grapevine and half-inaccuracies. So YOUR assumption the Gedolim based ANYTHING on misinformation, is just your assumptions based on what you heard on the grapevine.
3. That heavenly “signal” is far more likely to reach a Godol than a Koton (like ourselves.)
4. Sure there are disparities of opinion amongst Gedolim. YOU just follow YOUR Rov.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
1 & 2: I don’t think that’s what notpashut meant, but it is plausible. However my experience (i.e. the R. Svei/R. Lamm episode) tells me otherwise. Regarding the Lipa Schmelczer and concert debacle, the Rav of my schul, who is a close talmid of R. Shmuel Kaminetzky told me that R. Kameinetzky admitted that the signatories to the proclamation did not have all the facts. Moreover, unless there is more transparency to the process how can we really know what information the Gedolim have? But I do know that the organizers of the Madison Square concert were not given an opportunity to address the Gedolim prior to the proclamation and address the issues. Why weren’t they? That they weren’t given that opportunity tells me that the Gedolim didn’t have all the information available and decided the issue in a [partial] vacuum.
3: Why?
4: How can there be disparities? Halachik practice can have differences of opinion. The system allows for it and has systemic mechanisms to deal with it. But doctrine is different. Notice how nowhere in the Halachik literature does a posek declare that G-d wants us to do “X.” Indeed Tanur Achinai tells us that the Halachik system does not allow for that type of argument. But claims of Da’as Torah are precisely that; a claim that G-d wants us to believe X or do Y or refrain from doing Z due to some meta-halachik consideration. Once there is so absolutist a claim as to having ascertained Divine will in a given situation, there can be no room for dispute. While indeed counseling that one just “follow YOUR Rov” is good advice in how to deal with such issues, it does not solve the philosophical problem I’m trying to address.