[Avodah] Minhag Yisroel and Gra on 2 Matzos vs.3 Matzos/Rabbi shopping

[Arie Folger]

On Wednesday, 24. October 2007 12.03:25 Chana Luntz wrote:
> But, then you need to ask the question - how is that anybody ever
> chooses a Rav?

R'n CL has posted some human interest stories with considerable detail. While 
they should prompt fellow Ovedim, especially those who are called upon to 
guide people in such situations (rabbonim, dayyonim, but also chaplains and 
good friends), to think deeply about these issues, the stories are neither 
about pessaq nor about halakhah, but about the human interface.

Regarding the above quoted question, R'nCL herself suggests that one chooses a 
rav based on a common hashkafic outlook or by accident of history (being the 
right guy at the right time). I agree, but, as she indicated herself, I, too, 
would categorically exclude choosing someone based on the particular desired 
question to a particular question. Essentially, with choosing a rav, we 
choose a relationship with a particular derekh in Torah. However, let me just 
add that being a meiqil or a ma'hmir doesn't sound like a derekh to me.

It is the combination of this derekh and the particular facts of the shoel 
that prompt the posseq to give a particular answer. Hence, two shoalim and/or 
two possqim can give different answers to a similar question and no one will 
be wrong, and yet halakhah wouldn't be ambivalent.

KT,
-- 
Arie Folger
http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com