Wednesday, April 2, 2014

The making of a new Gadol

There is a new Gadol in town. Actually hes been around for a while but no one heard of him before. He kept pretty quiet and out of the lime lite over the years. He might have published a sefer or  issued a halachik psak to individuals where the outcome only mattered for themselves. It appears this Gadol has now emerged out in the open, he is quoted by everyone, yet he has a great advantage others don't have- that's because hes anonymous.

He is only referred to as an " אדם גדול הרוצה בעילום שמו " a Gadol that wishes to remain anonymous. He is   protected from any challenges and can not be approached to explain his position on any topic or area. By simply quoting his name, it gives backing to any position or ruling people arm themselves with. There is no way for anyone to defend themselves
as people are armed with this new tactic by not having to disclose the name of a rav is that issued a specific psak.

While this phenomenon is not new, as it has existed for generations. It was usually pertaining to a yochid for himself. A private psak tailored specifically by taking into account ones specific needs. Such a psak was not to be advertised as a blanket psak to be used by the general public. Today, it is used by many who are in a disagreement over an issue. All you have to say is, I got a psak from a אדם גדול הרוצה בעילום שמו and you are good to go, leaving your opponent with no were to turn or defend himself. Great damage can be caused by this tactic by getting a psak without a rav having heard the other side.

 This practice is being used and abused on a large scale, there is no way to verify the truth of anything anymore. Instead of ארור מכה רעהו בסתר let us work on האומר דבר בשם אומרו מביא גאולה לעולם.


3 comments:

  1. When you say over B'shem, what do you do if you've see it on an anonymous blog?

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  2. I saw a pamphlet once which had that gadol's haskama!

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  3. I think there are two gedolim of the same name, they are first cousins. One of them has lots of kulos that other rabbonim don't hold of but one could be somech on him. The other one has chumros more than anyone else.

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