To pronounce as Maimonides did
peace
Can I choose the Rambam as my rabbi and rule like him in everything, or do I have to choose a rabbi from today?
You don’t have to choose a rabbi, not from the past or from today. If you have a question, ask a rabbi or look in the books.
Regarding relying on an ancient Posk, there is a reply by the Rosh’s son in the Responsa Zichron Yosef, in which he forbids it (although it is about a community and not an individual). But in the Kushavut it is written that this is not the case, and it is permitted.
The question is whether I can follow the ruling of the Shul and in certain cases like the Maimonides. For example, allow myself to shave during the Omer because the Maimonides does not prohibit it and on the other hand not to make a decoction during the meat preparation as the Shul does. Or do I have to be consistent?
On the 2nd of Av,
To Noam, greetings,
The Maimonides rules that even in two courts of law in one city, there is a "not to be crowded" rule, and it seems that in his opinion, one should follow the majority of the city's sages. Apparently, in a town whose residents are mostly Ashkenazi, one should follow the Maimonides as the Rambam, and in a town whose residents are mostly Sephardim, the Maimonides orders that one should act as the Rambam. Whoever wants to act like the Rambam should move to a town of Yemenites 🙂
With blessings, Azriel Tzemach Halevi Kalisher
Regarding shaving, I think the Rambam forbids it all year round.
You don't have to be consistent. You have to do what you think is right. If you don't have your own position, you can follow some rabbi, but in that case there are customary laws (Ashkenazi as a Carma and Sephardi as an author).
Rabbi Micha Shalom, first of all, thank you for your answer.
I would like to clarify the point, to what extent can a person rule for himself?
For example, I am Yemenite, there is a custom to say Selichot for 40 days, I do not connect with this custom at all. According to the Rambam, there is no custom to say Selichot, but only for 10 days. Is it true that I should rule for myself not to say Selichot?
I will go one step further. The Sages prescribed praying 3 times a day, in order to preserve the national identity of the Jewish people on the eve of their exile. This type of worship does not suit my mental and religious structure at all. {I cannot say the same text 3 times a day} Can I rule for myself to pray only once a day? After all, the Sages’ ruling was for the collective, not the individual.
Saying Selichot is not a law but a custom. Therefore, there is no issue of ruling here. You ask whether it is possible to deviate from a custom? Sometimes yes, although in principle customs are binding.
The sages and the Talmud have formal authority, like the Sanhedrin, and therefore one should not deviate from their instructions. Beyond that, you decided that the prayer regulation is to preserve our national identity. Where do you get it? And third, even if that is the purpose of the regulation, why is your connection to it relevant? At most, you could argue that in your case the goal is not achieved this way (but as mentioned, it does not matter because they have formal authority).
I elaborated on the matter of changes in law and autonomy in ruling in the third book of my trilogy.
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