Q&A: Jewish Law in the Future
Jewish Law in the Future
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi.
With God's help, in the future, in a utopian situation in which there is a Sanhedrin in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, would that mean there would be one Jewish law for all of Israel in every area? Or does Jewish law itself recognize that even in an ideal situation there would be communities that remain in halakhic disputes with one another?
For example, in a utopian situation, would there not be a case where one community declares such an animal non-kosher and another permits it? (As a matter of principle and not just a one-time case.) And also, aside from stringencies, with regard to the basic law itself.
Thank you.
Answer
There is an assumption that the Sanhedrin needs to ensure uniformity, but I reject that. On the contrary, it should allow each person to act autonomously according to his own understanding. It should issue binding rulings only in areas where society cannot function when there are different practices. If it turns out that one person will not stay as a guest with his friend, or that couples do not marry because of differences in practice, then there is room to establish a binding standard. Beyond that, there is no reason to undermine the value of autonomy. The differences would not only be between communities, because the value of autonomy means that each person should determine things for himself, and not that the community determines them for him (what is the difference between a community that determines things for its members and a Sanhedrin that determines things for communities and individuals?).