[Avodah] melucha

[Zev Sero]

On 10/05/18 10:51, David Riceman via Avodah wrote:
> Me:
>>>
>>> Are there other examples of "rosh" meaning subordinate? It's a surprising usage.
> 
> RZS:
> 
>>
>> Certainly in more recent usage it's not at all surprising; in every
>> Jewish community the Rosh Hakahal was the layman who did the work, not
>> the rav who guided him.
> 
> No.  The kehilla had the authority, not the rav.  The rav was an expert
> on halacha and (in smaller kehillot) the town judge, but the kehilla voted
> on policy, with each household having some share of the vote.

But if the rav paskened that they were wrong they had to obey him.


>> But at
>> any rate there can't be any doubt that R Akiva is referring to the
>> full-time administrators, because his whole point is that if they're to
>> do their job properly they can't be learning all day.

> The claim that “da'as Torah” is derived from din melech is precisely the
> claim that learning Torah all day does produce authoritative expertise in other fields. 

And indeed it does; how do you see a contradiction from R Akiva?  He 
didn't say TCh don't have the knowledge to run the town, but that they 
don't have the time.


> Incidentally, it also raises a question: why is there a melech at
> all, shouldn’t the leader of the Sanhedrin be more qualified for his
> role?

Same story: He is qualified, but he has no time, so he will neglect the 
work and the town will suffer.  That's why we need and have askanim to 
run things, but they have to know that they are not in charge but must 
defer to the chachamim.  Note that not even the biggest haredi calls for 
the gedolei hatorah to sit in the knesset themselves, let alone to be 
mayors and city councillors.


-- 
Zev Sero            A prosperous and healthy 2018 to all
zev at sero.name       Seek Jerusalem's peace; may all who love you prosper