[Avodah] Daas Torah

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Tue, Apr 15, 2008 at 12:44 PM, <T613K at aol.com> wrote:

>
> To which RRW wrote:
>
>
> >>So are you saying a big talmid chochom can never be wrong?<<
>
>  >>>>>>
> This is a very common misconception of what da'as Torah means.
>
> Right wing Orthodox (RWO) -- the people who tend to actually believe that
> there is such a thing as "da'as Torah"  -- never think that their rabbanim,
> poskim and gedolim are infallible.  It is only people outside the RWO orbit
> who mistakenly imagine that RWO people believe in something like papal
> infallibility.
>
> The true meaning of da'as Torah, as understood by the RWO Jews who
> actually believe in it, is that the more pious and the greater a talmid
> chacham is, the more likely it is that he will give you good advice in your
> personal life and that he will give Klal Yisrael good advice on a communal
> level.  Naturally people in need of good advice and counseling will seek out
> those who are wiser than themselves, but no one imagines that a gadol can
> 'never' be wrong.
>
> *
> *
> *--Toby Katz
> =============*
>

Many years ago on this list I advocated the position re: Psak that a Gadol
is not necesarily correct on anygiven  issue, he just has a higher "batting
average" in general. [Illustration:  think of the Taz on temimos requiring
davening a late Ma'ariv on Shavuos, etc. I don't argue with him because I am
greater, just that sometimes even a Gadol can miss the mark...]

But the notion of Da'as Torah in worldly affairs has to be taken with a
grain of salt.

Illustration: Why should a "gadol" consult a physician re: cases of sakkanah
etc.? Isn't his da'as Torah better than that of a mere doctor?  therefore -
should I consult a financial planner or a rav for economic advice?  yada
yada yada.

Of course A member of Sanhedrin needs to master 70 languages - this has been
explained as to include being conversant in various "chachmos".  A real
Gadol would consult with experts in various fields before rendering a
decisoin, unles that Gadol is already an expert. Certainly Rambam did not
need to consult an outside Physician  and  I'm sure some Rabbonim having a
degrees in Math need not consult other mathematicians.   But the average
Gadol might be conversant in a matter w/o being an expert!

Example: I was taught in junior high that vinegar is Acetic Acid AND that
aspirin is made from acetic acid and salicylic acid. On that basis I used to
assum that aspirin was a product of  hametz!  But I was corrected by
practical chemists and pharmacists who explained that using grain vinegar
was prohibitive in the manufacture of aspirin!  So a little learning can be
dangerous and misleading.

RMF in IM was concerned that Shabbos Clocks would undermine the spirit of
Shabbos if used for anything but lights. This concern was never manifest
[afaik] in those communities that use it for A/C etc.



Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
see: http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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