Questions about halachic deciders and their rulings.
19
votes
6answers
928 views
Why is it necessary to ask a Rabbi?
In various places on this site, including the FAQ, we have the following disclaimer:
Like Wikipedia, this site makes no guarantee of validity, and does not offer professional (particularly ...
11
votes
3answers
308 views
Yerushalmi Versus Bavli in Halacha
The halacha we have today is mostly sourced in Talmud Bavli(the Babylonian Talmud),Medrash and Zohar. I would like to know what Halachot in which we rule according to the Yerushalmi (the Jerusalem ...
7
votes
3answers
270 views
Posek vs. Rabbi?
It seems to me obvious that certain sheilos are best dealt with by only the leading Rabbanim. At the same time colloquially we often say a Rabbi has "paskened" a sheilah when the answer is fairly ...
12
votes
1answer
242 views
What is the meaning of psak?
I have asked many people this question, and not yet got a comprehensive answer: What is psak?
Like, let's say I have a certain piece of food of uncertain status. If I ask my 6 year old kid if it's ...
3
votes
4answers
393 views
Make for yourself a website?
Can a site like mi.yodeya.com be used for one to fulfill our sages mandate of "Make for yourself a Rav"?
Obviously I meant this facetiously. Of course a website cannot take the place of a rav, but ...
12
votes
5answers
323 views
Can we argue with gedolim when we are sure that we are right?
I recently saw a teshuva by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Ohrach Chaim Volume 1 Teshuva 109, that quotes a letter from Rabbi Menashe Klein asking a question on Rabbi Moshe's psak but saying that he does not ...
10
votes
4answers
375 views
The Ability to Pasken
What gives someone the ability to Pasken? At what point do we say that he is knowledgeable enough to decide questions on a topic? Does this have to do with "Semicha"? Does it have to do with being a ...
14
votes
7answers
242 views
SE Challenge: Halachot in which rulings range from permissible to Torah violation?
Inspired by my previous question regarding heating up soup on Shabbat, I present a challenge to the Judaism StackExchange community --
List halachot which have halachic decisions ranging from ...
9
votes
3answers
435 views
What evidence is required to indicate mamzer status?
It seems to me that just about every possible shadow of doubt is used to prevent halachic rulings that would classify a person as a mamzer. From my understanding after having read this paragraph on ...
2
votes
0answers
112 views
Must one go according to his/her opinion (leshitato)?
Imagine that a Halakhic Decisor (decider?) maintains a certain Halakhic position or Hashkafic belief. [I am assuming that such thing as a Hashkafic Decisor exists.] Anyway, is it imperative that s/he ...
12
votes
6answers
225 views
Am I allowed to answer my friend's Halacha question?
Preface: Assume I am not an ordained Rabbi.
Suppose I'm having lunch with my friend and he asks me "do I have to say a bracha on this dessert?" or "when's the last time I could daven mincha today?" ...
9
votes
1answer
137 views
May I rely on the halachik leniency of others?
If "Reuven" believes the halacha to be one way and "Shimon" believes it to be more lenient may Reuven rely on Shimon to do something for him based on this leniency?
Here is a 100% fictional ...
7
votes
2answers
173 views
Why has the Mishnah Berurah become the Authoritative Halachik Work instead of the Aruch haShulchan?
Hirhurim just had a post about this topic, where he discussed some reasons that people should follow the aruch haShulchan. Yet in many circles, people just follow the Mishna Berura and rarely even ...
3
votes
1answer
91 views
Is there such a thing as dispassionate p'sak?
(Inspired by http://mi.yodeya.com/questions/6008/psak-halacha-by-ai)
Much is made of the need for poskim to be well-experienced people who have been involved in a number and variety of Jewish ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
Following old Rabbi's Pesak
Let's you asked your old rabbi a question and he answered you, but not let's say you lost contact with him or some other story. Do you still have to follow this pesak or can you change?
2
votes
2answers
200 views
P'sak halacha by AI?
How good does artificial intelligence need to be before we can turn to a robot for piskei halacha?
The accepted reason that even the most knowledgeable people need to ask legal advice from poskim is ...
1
vote
2answers
184 views
Main Sefardi Rav
Which rabbi do the majority of sefardim follow? Or, do a majority of them not follow a single rabbi?
