Q&A: The Authority of the Talmud
The Authority of the Talmud
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’ve read many answers about the authority of the Talmud, but things still haven’t become completely clear to me. Why is acceptance by the majority binding? Seemingly, the Torah mentions only the institution of the Sanhedrin. And if this is based on reasoning, then it is puzzling that such great force could be established purely by reasoning. And it cannot be compared to the acceptance of the Torah, where He explicitly obligated us for all generations until the end of time. If the Rabbi has additional examples of this kind of innovation based on reasoning (in Beit Yishai he writes that this is explained in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, but I did not understand his words), thank you very much, and forgive me for troubling you with questions that have already been chewed over thoroughly.
Answer
In Beit Yishai itself he explains that the example of this is the Revelation at Mount Sinai. There too, it is the acceptance of the many that obligates us. And so too with every law of a state that is binding.