Q&A: Authority
Authority
Question
When the Sanhedrin reached a halakhic conclusion based on a moral or factual judgment, does that bind me even though I disagree with their assessment? (Especially according to your view that they have formal authority only in the realm of Jewish law, but here it is difficult because the Jewish law itself stems from a fact…)
Answer
Obviously yes. Even when they reached a decision by virtue of a factual determination, they have authority for that as well, except where the decision is based on a demonstrable error (for example, a scientific discovery that arose after their time). If they ruled on a factual or evaluative question contrary to your opinion, but established it as binding Jewish law — then it is binding. Exactly as a religious court rules in light of clarifying the facts, and that binds the litigants even if they do not agree about the facts. If the Sanhedrin merely determines what is proper to do, but does not rule it as binding Jewish law — then of course there is no obligation to obey. And the same is true regarding the Talmud.
Discussion on Answer
You may be surprised, but no. Even the Holy One, blessed be He, cannot command me to think something. No one, including Him, has authority regarding facts. But if He says it, then it is probably true, so on the substantive level I will adopt it. But not because of formal authority.
Clear, thanks. What you are saying is that the Sanhedrin has no formal authority in the realm of thought/fact; in other words, one could say that the Sanhedrin can command me to do this, but not to think this. What about the Holy One, blessed be He? Does He have the authority to command me to think A even though by my nature I would think B? I understand / assume that He can (because anything written in the Torah is binding as a source of authority), and if so, once I am convinced that thinking A is a divine command directly from Him, may I not think B — but how does one actually do that in practice? If I think B, nothing will make me think A?!