[Avodah] Kabbalah's Legitimacy

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' Richard Wolpoe wrote:
> And yet when it comes to ... using Shabbos Clocks for
> anything other than lights - the whole world rejects RMF
> himself!  How can that be? ...
> Or is Torah more democratic than that after all, and that
> ANYONE with a raya can trump anyone else. Rambam himself
> posits this in  his Hakdamah to Mishne Torah s his license
> for dismissing Ga'onic precdent.  Similar points are made in
> Choshen Mishpat 25, that rayos can trump existing p'sak or
> precedent!

Yes, it is possible for someone of lower stature can overturn someone of higher stature, if his svara and/or raayos are strong enough. The Gra did it, Rav Moshe did it, and many others did it.

But RRW's use of the word "ANYONE" makes it sound like individual balabatim all over the world have taken it upon themselves to pretend that they're smarter than Rav Moshe.

I hope that's not what he meant. One needs to be at a certain level before taking on these giants, and I for one do not consider myself in that category. I use Shabbos clocks for lots of things other than lights, but it is NOT because I reject Rav Moshe's psak. While it is true that I do not understand his distinction between lights and other devices, that is NOT why I allow myself to use the timers for other things.

Rather, my reasoning is that Rav Moshe appears to be in the minority on this point. Other poskim have no problem with using these timers for other devices, and THAT'S what I'm relying on. Not my own logic, but the apparent majority of poskim.

(Specifically: Rav Shimon Eider's Halachos Of Shabbos allows shabbos clocks for cow-milking machines on page 111. On page 322 he forbids reheheating food on an electric stove which is connected to a shabbos clock, but totally for bishul reasons, not for anything to do with the timer. In both places, he cites the Chazon Ish extensively. Also, the Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa 13:23 allows these timers without mentioning anything about a limitation for lights only; his sources include the Chazon Ish, the Yabia Omer, and others.)

Akiva Miller
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