[Avodah] Social responsibility, halacha, and psak

[Meir Shinnar]

One of the defining characteristics, for the RZ and MO, of the charedi
community in Israel - is the fact that it is a community that
separates itself from the general, non haredi community - even while
remaining dependent on it and relying on the outside for many vital
services.  The reasons and desirability of this situation is one
thing, but there is a sense that this situation should lead to a
change in mentality - reflected as well in the psak of its leaders,
not just in the amcha.
This may be difficult to document, as this change can be subtle.
However, I ran across an interesting source that suggests precisely
this change.

In the Minchat Asher (quite popular haredi work) on parshat yitro, he
has an essay whether shabbat is dechuya or hutra with pikuah nefesh -
quite erudite and interesting.
At the end, he brings the question whehter someone who has on call
responsibilities should either try to switch his call with some one
else, or, recognizing that he will be more diligent, deliberately take
call on shabbat.   He brings down Rav Moshe's answer that this depends
on the issue whether shabbat is dchuyah or hutra - if hutra, one
should take, if dchuya, one should switch.
He then adds - that he disagrees - that it is better that one tries to
keep an intact shabbat with one's family even if shabbat is hutra -
and therefore avoid call.

My sense is that this is actually a quite radical position - which
reflects the reality and comfort of depending on others to fulfill
vital functions - and therefore reflects ways in which current reality
seep into all aspects of psak.
Meir Shinnar