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<DIV><FONT size=2>RTK's very clear explanation of what she believes da'at (or
daas, if you like) Torah is leaves open one issue: once you ask advice on
a personal matter, or a community representative asks advice on a communal
matter, what obligation, if any, does the person asking for the advice have to
follow it? Is it legitimate to ask for advice, consider it seriously, and
then decide not to follow it? My sense is that those who follow da'at
Torah feel they must always follow the advice, but I may be wrong. If I am
right, however, that is where the MO differ. Many of us also ask advice on
various issues where pesak halacha is not at issue, and although we do consider
the advice given by the rabbinic leader to whom we are addressing the question,
we do not feel bound to follow the advice. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2>Joseph Kaplan</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>