Q&A: The Role of the New Sanhedrin
The Role of the New Sanhedrin
Question
Hello,
In your third book in the trilogy (p. 617), you write that it is not the role of the Sanhedrin to decide disputes and abolish customs and differences of opinion, and that if this happens, it would be a nightmare.
I would be happy to hear an explanation why.
From my perspective, it would be a wonderful dream. Enough with Ashkenazim-Sephardim-Yemenites, and this one does things this way and that one that way. Enough with the continuation of disputes whose source is in exile (according to Maimonides, and I agree with him).
Answer
What is bad about disputes? What is bad is that they would force me to act not in accordance with what I think. Customs are of no importance in my eyes (Yemenites, Ashkenazim, Sephardim), but different approaches to halakhic rulings are an expression of different modes of thought, and I see no reason to abolish them. One should let each person act as he understands, except where uniformity is important. There, it is the role of the Sanhedrin to intervene.
Discussion on Answer
And what about a higher authority to abolish customs where it is plainly and clearly obvious that they have no reason?
And abolishing rabbinic decrees that have outlived their usefulness? And issuing new decrees?
And why, really, not force people to act contrary to their own thinking? I haven’t read the book yet, but isn’t this an approach the Rabbi himself holds, for example regarding the authority of the Talmud?
Why shouldn’t I interpret verses according to my own reasoning, and likewise baraitot and mishnayot?
If a Sanhedrin were established that unified the customs, would the Rabbi support its authority?
So is the Rabbi basically saying that according to the Torah, as a starting assumption, each person should do what seems right in his own eyes? And only under certain conditions would an instruction from above be accepted?
Correct. I wrote this explicitly. What’s the question?
Rabbi Michi, who would the members of the Sanhedrin be besides your honored self?