Q&A: Autonomy in Jewish Law
Autonomy in Jewish Law
Question
Hello Rabbi,
According to my understanding from the Rabbi’s lectures, there is value to autonomy in Jewish law, but with the qualification that one must be sufficiently competent to issue a halakhic ruling. If that is not the case, we are supposed to choose a rabbi. What should I do in a case where I know that I am not sufficiently competent, since I have not studied enough Talmud and Jewish law, but on a certain issue, after investigating the arguments, I found that the arguments of Maimonides are more convincing to me than those of the Shulchan Arukh? Others argue that I should follow the Shulchan Arukh or a Sephardic halakhic decisor (I am Sephardic) and ignore Maimonides’ arguments, because what I think I understand is likely a mistake. I do not understand how I am supposed to ignore what my reason tells me. I know that the Rabbi has discussed the issue of substantive versus formal authority and autonomy in Jewish law, but because of the qualification the Rabbi mentioned, I am still left with doubts about how to act in such a situation.
Answer
I think that if your conclusion accords with an existing halakhic decisor, you may act in accordance with your understanding, since you certainly did not make a basic mistake. You have someone to rely on. But if you are disagreeing with the major pillars of halakhic ruling and you do not have clearly established decisors on your side, that is something a person who is not sufficiently competent cannot do.
Understood, thank you very much for the quick reply.