[Avodah] (long!) Find Yourself a Rabbi and Treat Every Rabbi WithRespect - A possible introduction and guide to Avodah/Areivim

[Rich, Joel]

Answer: You have asked a very painful question. First of all, as far as
the Sanhedrin, our master Rabbi Kook already wrote that for a Sanhedrin
you need world-class scholars on a level that does not exist today
(Igarot HaRe'iyah I:341).
-----------------------------
Me- doesn't the gemara in rosh hashana 25b make the opposite point
(yiftach bdoro) on exactly this point?
-----------------------------



Rav Tzvi Shechter wrote that the Talmud explains (Yevamot 14) that when
a sage differs with his contemporaries, even when he is greatly
outnumbered, he and his disciples must continue rendering decisions and
conducting themselves in according with his view. The rule that we
follow the majority (Exodus 23:2) applies to the rest of the people who
are not his students. He also wrote that every Torah scholar who becomes
a halachic authority must always express his own view, however he has
come to understand the truth of the law (Nefesh HaRav 60-62).

Rav Shechter (Nefesh HaRav, page 62) quotes from the Vilna Gaon (as it
appeared in Rav Chaim Volozhin's sefer "Chut HaMeshulash" at the end of
Siman 9) that if a rabbi comes to a conclusion that goes against the
Shulchan Aruch, and rules according to the Shulchan Aruch, he violates,
"Do not give anyone special consideration when rendering judgment"
(Deuteronomy 1:17)
----------------------------------------
Me-I assume he was referring to Rabbi Hershel(Tzvi) SchAchter

GT
Joel Rich
-----------------------------------------
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE 
ADDRESSEE.  IT MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL 
INFORMATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.  Dissemination, 
distribution or copying of this message by anyone other than the addressee is 
strictly prohibited.  If you received this message in error, please notify us 
immediately by replying: "Received in error" and delete the message.  
Thank you.