[Avodah] Re Godol Hador

[david guttmann]

Shut Rivash Teshuvah 271 has an interesting discussion on a related issue.
The outcome is that nowadays  authority is localized by virtue of the Rav
who is also a teacher and Rosh Yeshiva, is usually the Rebbi of  the
Rabbanim in his jurisdiction. IOW a Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in an  area
(country? Which is not clearly defined other than I guess where his Talmidim
are active) has rights to impose his psak by virtue of him being the Rebbi
of most Rabbanim.  The authority of the Rav on the jurisdiction is based on
his being the Rosh Yeshiva and therefore the Rebbi of the majority of the
Rabbanim in the area, they are bound to not pasken where their Rebbi is
without permission (Moreh Halacha Bifnei Rabo) . Semicha (Bizman Hazeh) is
therefore permission to do so given by the Rebbi. Outsiders who come into
the jurisdiction and are Talmidim of another Rav have no obligation to
submit to the local Rav and are considered as his Chaverim. Furthermore the
Talmid has to be a Talmid muvhak of the RY to be restricted by his
authority. 

Clearly Rivash did not accept the existence of the position of Gadol Hador,
in fact destroys the concept totally, though from the machlokes description
that idea had germinated already in his time. Teshuvah worthwhile learning
from an historic perspective too. 
David Guttmann
 
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