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| R' Gershon Edelstein - considered one of the Gedolei HaDor |
The Charedi world has taken this concept to the next level as a sort of logical extension. It is one of the ways they are Chareid L’Dvar HaShem – trembling at the word of God. It is in how they determine that truth that defines them. Which goes something like this:
Logic dictates the greatest rabbis of each generation (The Gedolim) are the best expositors of that truth. After all, who knows better what God’s will is than the Gedolim - people that study the Torah the most? They apply the Torah’s words ‘Lo Sasur’ (do not turn away – or oppose) not only to God or to the context in which they wee written (the Sanhedrin) but also to the great rabbis of each generation.
To what extent must we go? Rashi explains that even if they say right is ‘left’ and left is ‘right’ you must listen to them. Thus nullifying our own common sense. Disagreeing with them is therefore considered near blasphemous. It is like contradicting God Himself!
When challenged with the fact that Gedolim are human beings, fallible, and make mistakes, they will retort by agreeing but say that they are nevertheless in the best position to know what God’s truth is and the rest of us have no standing to disagree with them.
The problem is – who are the greatest rabbis of the generation? In some cases it is easy to see who they are. To take an obvious example from the 20th century, I don’t think there is any dispute about this applying to R’ Moshe Feinstein. But he was not the only one. There were other great rabbis that shared that appellation. But in some cases it becomes political. The fact is that Rav Yosef Dov Solovietchik, the Lubvitchcer Rebbe and the Satmar Rebbe were all Gedolim.
The Lithuanian Charedi world rejected all three of them as expositors of God’s word.
That is one problem with their concept of Daas Torah. But there is something happening in their own world that shows widening cracks in that wall. A lot of Charedim I know that agree with the concept of Daas Torah already take what their Gedolim say with a grain of salt. Sometimes privately disagreeing with them in certain situations.
I think that phenomenon is increasing. I noticed that in the recent commentary about Walder by a number of respected Charedi rabbis (who ae not Gedolim). Even though those disagreements are framed in the most deferential tones – almost as if agreeing with them it comes with a huge ‘but’. Which in essence ends up as disagreement. But it’s more that that. Some of these rabbis are saying that the system itself is broken. Without saying so directly, the ‘system’ is their version of Daas Torah.
It’s not that Daas Torah is rejected as a concept. It is just that their Gedolim are no longer treated as near infallible. They no longer accept a Gadol to declaring right is ‘left’ and left is ‘right’ as Daas Torah.
To be sure there are still plenty of Charedim that treat their Gedolim that way. But I think it might just be decreasing. Not just among the masses. But among their rabbis.
If the Walder saga has produced anything positive it is taking a hard look at how they view the wisdom of their Gedolim. This is not to say they are not respected. They surely are - as they should be. But their pronouncements are not always agreed with - more publicly now than ever.
I don’t know where this is headed. But my guess is that the Gedolim the Charedi world so thoroughly rely upon for Daas Torah will respond in some way that will win back the confidence of their flock. On the other hand, whether they can actually accomplish this remains to be seen. Old habits die hard. The Charedi world has relied on their Gedolim for so long that when this all blows over, it will be business as usual. But still - there is a ‘crack in the wall’ of Daas Torah. And more than a few Charedim are beginning to question it.
Just a few of my thoughts.