[Avodah] Characterizing our era

[Prof. Levine]

At 12:38 PM 8/11/2011, REMT wrote:

>     In sum, RMYG is right: we are now in the era of the roshei 
> yeshiva.  But RMB, too, is correct: the dividing  line at which 
> this new era was ushered in is the shoa.

I would like to add what I consider an important footnote to 
this.   Due to the Chassidization of Yiddishkeit that has occured 
after WWII,  the roshei yeshiva have come to assume more and more the 
role of rebbes and non-chassidic Jews now behave more and more like Chassidim.

I believe that this is one of the points that R. N. Kamenetsky made 
in his interview at http://tinyurl.com/3rkxr62  In response to the question

Is there a halachic source for blindly following a rabbi in matters 
that are not related to Jewish law, such as politics or other matters?

he replied:

"The Mitnagdim (non-Chassidic Jews) always thought for themselves. If 
they had a specific question they could not decide, they would come 
to get advice from a wise and knowledgeable man who had the Torah 
behind him, but things a person can figure out on his own, it is 
forbidden to depend on others' judgment. In his commentary to the 
Mishna, Rambam describes the great power of the human mind to make 
decisions, a man must use his own mind, do not denigrate your own 
intelligence. If you have a doubt about something, go ask someone 
wiser, after you hear what they say, you do not have to follow their 
advice like a blind man, you have to digest it and decide if it was 
good or bad. The Mishna asks, 'Upon whom should one rely?' And it 
answers, 'On God.' It does not say 'On Rav Elyashiv,' or 'On Rav 
Shteinman.' It is obvious that we talk of individual issues, but in 
issues concerning the entire community, great Torah scholars are the 
leaders of the community and guides of all of Israel."

Yitzchok Levine 
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