Q&A: Current Halakhic Issues
Current Halakhic Issues
Question
Have a good week.
I was taught the guiding halakhic principle of “Make for yourself a rabbi, and remove yourself from doubt.” As I understand it, the rabbi one chooses to follow is supposed to be a guide in every halakhic area — not to zigzag.
My question is: if I am Sephardi and follow the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, but I am clearly not well-versed in his rulings on various issues (rather, whenever I encounter a topic, I check what he ruled), and there is someone who gives Jewish law lessons in the synagogue (which do not necessarily match Rabbi Ovadia’s rulings — and let’s say that person is Ashkenazi), how relevant are those laws to me? Am I allowed to act in accordance with another Ashkenazi or Sephardi halakhic decisor in cases I choose?
Another question:
In the case of Daniel Zamir, who wanted to lead the prayers in order to say Kaddish for his grandmother, but was refused by the worshippers when they discovered that he had “come out of the closet.” I do not know whether he is actually violating a Torah commandment, or merely “attracted to men.”
But let us assume that a certain person is attracted to men and fights tooth and nail against his nature — what is wrong with his leading the prayers to say Kaddish for his grandmother?
Alternatively, let us assume that a certain person is attracted to men and gives in to his urge. In that case, it is certainly legitimate to refuse to let him lead the prayers to say Kaddish for his grandmother, isn’t it?
I am not knowledgeable in Jewish law (yes, I fit the example I gave pretty well), so I would be happy if you could clarify these matters.
Thank you very much!
Answer
There is no obligation to follow the same rabbi in every matter. There is a prohibition, or at least an issue, with choosing the lenient ruling each time (and even that apparently, from the Talmud, applies only when there is a contradiction between the leniencies). By the way, choosing a rabbi does not remove you from doubt; it only instructs you how to act. You will not be free of doubt until you know how to rule for yourself and do so.
If we are talking about a person who has an inclination toward a prohibition but fights his urge and overcomes it, then he is an outstanding prayer leader, among the very best. Much more so than someone who has no such inclination toward prohibition. If he is known as someone who actually violates the severe prohibition of forbidden sexual relations, then it is not appropriate to let him serve as prayer leader (though even here there are certainly grounds for leniency). If it is not known, then there is no basis to forbid him.
Discussion on Answer
That he is acting under compulsion, and perhaps also regrets that he is forced to transgress. And this is especially true when praying with a congregation that does not see this as a disgraceful act, but understands the coercive nature of the situation.
You wrote, “it is not appropriate to let him serve as prayer leader (though even here there are certainly grounds for leniency).”
What “grounds for leniency” are there here??