Rabbinic authority: Introduction

Abstract

It is against the backdrop of these two conflicting tendencies in contemporary times that we offer this special issue of Tradition dealing with the overall theme of rabbinic authority. The articles presented here address a variety of issues relating to this general topic: the binding nature of rulings and enactments made through ru'ah ha-kodesh (the divine spirit) and those legislated by the bet din ha-gadol; the authority of a "gadol ha-dor" or mara de-atra; a philosophical analysis of rabbinic authority; what are the parameters of the biblical commandments of "lo tasur" ("you shall not deviate from the words that they will tell you, neither to the right nor to the left; Deuteronomy 17:11) and of the commonly accepted notions of emunat hakhamim and da'at Torah (the Torah position)?; how binding and authoritative is halakhic precedent for a contemporary posek?; is there such a thing as objective halakhic "truth" which reflects the divine will?; does the authoritative status of rabbinic writings apply also to non-halakhic areas?; are rabbinic writings infallible?; is there an allowance granted for personal autonomy in matters of hashkafah, and even halakhah? It is my hope that the ideas presented here will advance the level of discussion of these subjects, li-hagdil Torah u-li-ha'adirah. (from Conclusion)