[Avodah] HaRav Yosef Ber Soloveitchik on Saying Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzma’ut

[Yitzchok Levine]

The following is from today's Hakhel Email Bulletin.

Today, Yom Ha'Atzma'ut, is celebrated in some of our communities (in 
various ways), and not celebrated in others.  We all know the 
different approaches and sentiments on the topic--and note that in 
the Third Beis Hamikdash described by Yecheskel there will be 12 
entrances, for there can be different approaches to the one 
Avodah.  What we may add is that however one does or does not 
celebrate, observe or perform--it should be done in accordance with 
the teachings of his ultimate Rav or Posek.  There can be much 
misinformation or misguidance, and a person can conduct himself based 
upon what he believes to be correct, without further 
consultation--and this is the part that is wrong.  As a case in 
point, we may mention that HaRav Yosef Ber Soloveitchik, Z'tl, Rav of 
Boston, and Rosh HaYeshiva of RIETS, was in the Yeshiva on Yom 
Ha'Atzma'ut 5738 (1978)--one of the latter years of his giving 
Shiurim in the Yeshiva.  He davened Shacharis in the Morgenstern 
dormitory minyan, which davened with Hallel.  Later that morning, 
rather than giving Shiur on Perek HaZahav (the 4th perek of Bava 
Metziah which was being studied that Zeman in his Shiur), Rav 
Soloveitchik, obviously upset, instead gave Shiur on the importance 
of keeping the Tzuras HaTefillah intact.  Shemone Esrei is followed 
by Chazaras Hashatz, which is followed by Tachanun, and then followed 
by Ashrei and U'va Letzion--and we do not have the right or privilege 
of changing that, he opined.  Rav Soloveitchik continued that if one 
wanted to express his personal gratitude or thanks to Hakadosh Baruch 
Hu, he could recite the Chapters of Hallel in Tehillim (Chapters 
113-118) after davening.  Now, this is not to say that Rav 
Soloveitchik had a different opinion in earlier years or in later 
years (we do not know either way)--but it is to say that someone was 
not following his Rebbe if he knew what his opinion was at that 
time--and still recited Hallel in place of Tachanun in order to make 
his own personal statement.  On the other hand, if one's final 
Halachic authority is the Rabbanut, his practice should be 
different.  This ruling will be different than that of the 
Badatz-Yerushalayim.  What does your ultimate Rabbinic authority 
say?  A person must look upwards for answers--not to himself, 
downwards or sideways.
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