Q&A: Majority
Majority
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’m a yeshiva student, and during the intersession I was thinking of trying to learn the topic of majority. It’s clear to me that this topic is broad, there are different kinds of majority, and I won’t be able to cover it comprehensively in such a short time. Still, I thought to ask whether the Rabbi has the foundational sources that build the conceptual framework on this issue, the basic distinctions between the different types of majority (present before us and not present before us, “follow the majority,” nullification and majority, and so on). I figured the Rabbi has probably taught this at some point, so maybe the Rabbi has a source sheet on the subject. Thank you!
Answer
I suggest that you study Sha'arei Yosher, and at the same time look into the sources it cites: Gates 3–4. There are also several columns here on the site, and you can make use of them as well. Of course, they don’t go into the details.
Don’t get confused by the “topic” and think that majority has any significance. In truth, according to the Torah, majority has no significance:
"Do not follow the majority for evil, and do not answer concerning a dispute so as to incline after the majority to pervert justice."