authority

asked 7 years ago

I remember that the rabbi wrote (and I may be wrong in my understanding or content) that the authority of the Chazal is limited by law, and that it is similar to the authority of the Knesset to enact laws and that everyone must obey them even if the ordinary citizen thinks the legislator is wrong.
I ask what will happen when there is a coup and the people no longer want the authority of the legislature? Or in the case where 90 percent of the Jewish people do not accept the authority of the Chazal in Halacha, where will the Chazal draw their authority from in such a situation?

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מיכי Staff answered 7 years ago

I don’t have an answer to this question, but you must distinguish between two different cases: The fundamental authority is that of the Great Council, and it derives its validity from “do not deviate.” Here, public consent is not needed. The authority of the Talmud, which was not related to the Great Council, derives its validity from public consent. But consent has already been given. You ask what will happen if we go back and now the majority of the public decides not to accept their authority? Here it is of course important to say that we are talking about the majority of the public who are loyal to the law. Those who are not loyal to the law will not be counted. If there is such a majority, it is possible that the Sages will no longer have authority. Perhaps this should be likened to a decree that has been annulled and repealed, which is no longer null and void (and according to Maimonides, it can be annulled, but only in the case of the Jewish Law).

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דוד זיגל replied 7 years ago

How is it possible for a majority to be loyal to the law but not loyal to the spirit?
Isn't loyalty to the law and loyalty to the spirit the same?

mikyab123 replied 7 years ago

It is certainly possible. The sages are not the Almighty and their authority stems from the public's acceptance. The public that has accepted can also revoke the acceptance and hand over the authority to any other party (such as a rabbi or rabbis in our generation). This is no less faithful to the law.