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| Centrist rabbinic leader, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein |
Nothing that writer says is news to me. But it seems to be
increasingly evident to the very people it is happening to. And it pokes a huge
hole in the ‘Daas Torah’ of the right. In essence this Charedi writer has joined
the chorus of those of us who realize that today’s rabbinic leaders, especially
in Israel are being led down a path -
not of their own choosing. A path that
benefits Askanim - advisers upon which they rely for information upon which
they make public policy proclamations.
What is most encouraging about this particular essay is that
the writer lives in Israel. He has certainly absorbed the Hashkafos of Charedi Israel.
He respects the concept of Daas Torah – whereby major decisions about public
policy are decided by the great rabbis of the generation. And yet he laments
that their decisions can easily be wrong based on their reliance on others – rather
on direct examination of the facts.
Those ‘others’ each have agendas of their own and it is no
secret that even great rabbinic leaders like Rav Elyashiv can be misled into
making a decision based on fiction related to him by trusted Askainim. Askanim
that lied to him in order to get the outcome they perceived to be the right
one. Ask Rabbi Nosson Kamenetsky about
that.
The reasons for his critical analysis of Daas Torah are
immaterial. The point is that he no longer believes that their decisions can be
trusted.
Although his reasons are immaterial to his conclusions, they
too are the result of a flaw in the Charedi world that has developed over time.
A flaw that has resulted in the inability of many Charedim to make decisions even in the smallest matter.
The concept of Daas Torah has been extrapolated
to include ‘asking a Gadol’ about every
decision one makes in life. And today’s rabbinic leaders have done precious little
to disabuse them of this notion.
It is rare to go to a Charedi event these days
without hearing the phrase ‘Daas Torah’ in every speech and lecture. Multiple times.
It should therefore not be surprising
that there are many Charedim that believe that before making a decision about even the most mundane of matters, they must first ask a Gadol. To some the very
suggestion that one need not consult Daas Torah on every matter is anathema. Of course most Charedim know that not every decision in life requires a Gadol’s input. But there are many
who do. From the essay:
“today there is a growing phenomenon of the chareidi public insisting that every small matter be brought to the gedolim to decide on. While in the past, it was only major matters concerning all of klal yisroel that were brought to Rav Shach and his contemporaries to weigh in on, today every minor decision is brought to the gedolim in Bnei Brak…
The sheer volume of issues that the gedolim are being asked to get involved in have made it impossible for them to be able to research the issues themselves. They are forced to rely on those closest to them for information. And things will only get worse as the chareidi world continues to grow. This newfangled absurd idea that people cannot make even the most minor of decisions without consulting the gedolim in Bnei Brak has created a situation in which every aspect of chareidi life is now being controlled by a handful of gedolim… The gedolim will increasingly need to rely on those around them to help determine what is worthy of their support and what they should oppose.
This is huge. Rabbinic authority as it has evolved in the
Charedi world is being challenged. We now have a closet Charedi ‘skeptic’ about Daas Torah. Here is
how Rabbi Adlerstein puts it:
Many of us realize that the concept of Daas Torah underwent a transformation in the last decades. Some of it was for the better; much not. It has worked for some people, and put others on spiritual skids. The new Daas Torah has stifled individuality and creativity, and muted the voices of local rabbonim. It has narrowed the boundaries of our world, and erased diversity.
I want to make clear that in no way do I advocate abandoning
asking Shailos. Even in matters of public policy. It is vital to know what our
rabbinic leaders (…and I do not of course limit it to Charedi rabbinic leaders)
have to say on these issues. For an observant Jew public policies should be
based on what the Torah has to say about it. And that can only be determined if
one has all the facts. It appears that even the Charedi world increasingly realizes
that they can no longer rely on their rabbinic leaders. There is no way of knowing whether they
have been fed facts… or lies and distortions by their Askanim.
This is what that Charedi writer said. I believe it is a
major step forward. My only regret is that he fears retaliation were his identity
to be exposed. I completely understand. The battle for Emes has a long way to
go. But perhaps we are turning a corner.
