Reply To: Validity of Vilna Gaon's Cherem Against Chassidim

Matan1 – They are never wrong.

What does “emunas” chachomim mean? That you can trust them:

(a) “most” of the time,

(b) “some” of the time,

(c) “once in a while”???

We, the small minded, cannot grasp what is right or wrong. Even when it may appear wrong, we don’t know the ultimate cheshbon.

The emunah and bitochon in Hashem is 100%, and the Vayaminu b’Hashem U’b’moshe avdo is at the SAME level of emunah.

It is PROPER to compare gedolim to Moshe Rabbeinu. Indeed, Chazal compare the gedolim to Moshe:

Chazal often say about the godol, “Moshe shapir ko’amrat” (Moshe, you said correctly) even though his name is not Moshe, because in every dorr the gedolim are like Moshe – see Shabbos 101b, Sukkah 39a, Baitza 38b, Chulin 93a, Yerush. Nozir 5, 1 etc.)

Sometimes one godol (Rishon or Achron) will claim that the other made a mistake – but as Chazal tell us, in the city of Rav – the halacha is like Rav, while in the city of Shmuel – the halacha is like Shmuel. Ultimately, in Halacha there is only one Halacha, but in shita and hanhogah, there are many roads that lead to the destination and they are all true.