[Avodah] Lifnei Iver/Kanaus

[Doron Beckerman]

Igros Moshe EH vol. I: 38 concurs with R' Shlomo Heiman that the act of
Pinchas was only allowed for Kanaim, which is defined as when the action is
done by  a Kosher person who becomes incensed (or he gets himself angry) due
to the slight to the honor of Hashem, with no other ulterior motive. (He
goes on to a discussion about killing someone about to do an act of Pinchas
on an assumption that he is not a Kanai. The average Adam Kasher is presumed
to be acting in defense of HaShem's honor since that is the Matir)

The Igros that RDE quotes, IIUC, is talking about "kana'im" who would cancel
a Shidduch based on  the Chasan's elderly father, who was a Talmid Chacham,
mistakenly thinking he is allowed to kiss his (future?) daughter-in-law,
where  there is  some Kaf Zechus in considering that the error was because
of  applying a  Gemara about R' Tarfon and another one about Ulla, and the
presumption was that he would desist from doing this upon being shown
his error. This sort of Kanaus has no basis in Halachah, and so is certainly
Passul.

IOW, whether a case is a case where Kanaus is called for requires a Psak,
(like what R' Chaim Kanievsky was asked)  but a situation where Kanaus is
called for Al Pi Din, like Pinchas or Afrushei MeIssura, requires purity of
motives, not a Beis Din or a Moreh Horaah.
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