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<font size=3>At 12:38 PM 8/11/2011, REMT wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> 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.</blockquote><br>
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. <br><br>
I believe that this is one of the points that R. N. Kamenetsky made in
his interview at
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/3rkxr62" eudora="autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/3rkxr62</a> In response to the question<br><br>
<b>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?<br><br>
</b>he replied:<br><br>
“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.” <br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
Yitzchok Levine</font></body>
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