Q&A: Jewish Law
Jewish Law
Question
When I choose a halakhic decisor whose rulings I follow, do I have to follow his rulings all the time? For example: in the laws of the Sabbath, kashrut, etc., I follow Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s view, because when I started becoming religious, that was the path I came to know. But regarding getting a haircut and shaving on Independence Day, he did not permit it, whereas there are rabbis such as Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim, Rabbi Melamed, and others who hold that it is permitted and even a commandment. Once there are halakhic decisors who permit something, can I follow them and not the one I usually follow?
Answer
If you chose a rabbi for yourself, it is proper to follow him. But you can change that choice at any stage you want. If you do not identify with Rabbi Ovadia, then do not choose him as your rabbi. In any case, it is proper to decide who your rabbi is and follow him, and not choose each time the opinion that seems right to you, unless you yourself are qualified and able to decide on your own. In that case, there is no need at all to choose a rabbi.
Discussion on Answer
Possible.
Rabbi, it seems to me that the questioner's example is unusual. The questioner relies on Rabbi Ovadia in the laws of the Sabbath, kashrut, etc., but on the question of Independence Day, because of a different political/national outlook, he does not accept Rabbi Ovadia’s ruling (it is possible that if Rabbi Ovadia had rejoiced in the State of Israel as he does, he would have ruled differently). Wouldn’t it make sense for him, on this issue, to act like a rabbi who shares his view on that political-national question?