Q&A: Several Questions
Several Questions
Question
1. Regarding the commandment of tekhelet in tzitzit: is there an obligation to place tekhelet on every garment that requires tzitzit (such as a large tallit and a small tallit), or is it enough that one of them have tekhelet?
Also, what is the proper practical ruling—should one put two tekhelet strings on each corner, or is one string enough?
And what do you say about the ruling of Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvot VeHanhagot, Orach Chayim, section 26), according to which, since there is doubt about the authenticity of the tekhelet, someone who adopts tekhelet as a stringency in a place where that is not the practice violates the prohibition of “do not form separate factions”?
2. More than once I’ve seen that here you refer to concepts (thinking, halakhic ruling, and more) of “first order” and “second order.” Could you explain what you mean by that?
3. When you say that someone who is competent can (and should) rule and decide for himself, how far does that autonomy go?
I assume that one can certainly disagree freely with the rulings of the Shulchan Arukh and the later authorities, but where is the boundary?
Can one disagree with the interpretations of the medieval authorities (Rishonim) on a passage in the Talmud? And what about the conclusion of the Talmud itself, or the understanding of the Tannaim regarding the interpretation of and derivations from the verses?
Also, can one be competent in only one particular subject, or is that term reserved only for someone who is expert in all of Torah or most of it?
Answer
1. Why in the world only one of them? Tzitzit is tekhelet and white together.
I have no way to decide between Maimonides and the Raavad. I would do as the Raavad says, because that way you also satisfy the view of Maimonides.
Utter nonsense. Not only is he negligent for not being stringent in a Torah-level doubt, he also accuses those who act according to the law? There’s no limit to the distortions.
2. Search here on the site.
3. The boundary is the Talmud. See the places referred to in section 2.
4. You can be competent in one subject if you also have broad knowledge in the other areas. You can’t isolate one subject, know only that, and be considered competent in it.
Discussion on Answer
Not in a case where there is a commandment that others do not observe, whether they are acting unintentionally or whether they are negligent.
So what is the definition of “do not form separate factions,” and when does it actually apply?