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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#808080><SPAN class=484172112-22062009>See here :<A
title=blocked::http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/mb/62mb.htm
href="blocked::http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/mb/62mb.htm"><SPAN
title=blocked::http://www.vbm-torah.org/archive/mb/62mb.htm>www.vbm-torah.org/archive/mb/62mb.htm</SPAN></A> re
a favorite avodah topic</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#808080><SPAN
class=484172112-22062009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#808080><SPAN class=484172112-22062009>In
particular: </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#808080><SPAN class=484172112-22062009>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN>
</SPAN>There is a general difference in approach among poskim regarding how to
weigh local custom against textual authority.<SPAN> </SPAN>The Tosafot in
many places endeavor to reconcile the text with the custom (see for excample,
Shabbat 48a d.h. De-zeitim); other sages more readily condemn custom on the
authority of the plain sense of the text. <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O
/><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN>
</SPAN>It seems that several factors bear on the relative
importance:<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">1. How universal is
the custom?<SPAN> </SPAN>Responsa frequently point out that the reaction
to a seldom-encountered situation can not be considered a "custom" - merely a
precedent.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">2. Among whom is the
custom widespread?<SPAN> </SPAN>If we are certain that even scholars and
meticulous people conducted themselves in a certain way, this has more weight
than the behavior of the common people, pious though they may
be.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">3. Are opinions
opposing the custom recognized?<SPAN> </SPAN>Sometimes we find statements
to the effect that if a community had been aware that a great authority opposed
their custom, they would not have adopted it.<SPAN> </SPAN>Conversely, a
custom may be defended by pointing out that it was upheld even though opposing
views were clearly known.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">4. Perhaps in an area
of halakha whose basis is in custom, though it subsequently achieved the status
of binding halakha, we should give greater weight to custom.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
class=484172112-22062009><FONT color=#000000>KT</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
class=484172112-22062009><FONT color=#000000>Joel
Rich</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P></SPAN></FONT></DIV><br><br><table bgcolor=white style="color:black"><tr><td><br>THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE <br>
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