I recently came across a difficult question, not all Halachic, which I was reluctant to decide on for myself. I decided to do what I was taught is the right thing, and ask a great Torah scholar.
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Having studied in several Yeshivas with some of the greatest scholars in our generation, I picked up my phone and decided to dial. The problem? There was no one to answer the phone.
It brought me back to an article I once wrote the caused a stir in the frum world, so much so that a friend from Yeshiva called me and asked: “Did you ask for Daas Torah before writing it?”. Since we had studied in the same Yeshiva and since I am a good Jew I answered him with a question and asked: “Which of our rabbeim do you know who picks up their phone?”. His response was a heartbreaking silence.
Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to one or two cases. Too many Yeshiva graduates who went to the finest Yeshivas find themselves making very difficult decisions, be it on educating their children, as community Rabbonim, as Rabbeim, as doctors making life and death decisions, as therapists, in matters of business halacha, and so many other areas, with no one to go to with their questions.
Sure. There are some questions you can ask and get an answer. You might be able to write with a pen and paper and send it in the mail and get an answer some two months later–though in most cases by then the question is irrelevant. There are also rabbanim who spend day and night answering questions to those in their shuls or immediate areas, yet that does not address anyone not living within a ten minute walk from them, and there are rabbonim who do answer many questions, yet find themselves overwhelmed by the number of questions and people they need to address.
I go back to the days when my grandfather, Rabbi Boruch Poupko was a young Rov in Pittsburgh and could call Reb Moshe Feinstein, Rav Henkin, or his Rebbe from Yeshiva Reb Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik with any question he might have had. I reflect on the days Gedolim like the Chofetz Chaim, R’ Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, R’ Zelig Epstein, R’ Shmuel Birnbaum, and so many others were able to spend hours upon hours answering questions, taking phone calls, writing letters, and being responsive.
I have no simple answers. Perhaps this has to do with the Bracha and Simcha industries that have so many of our Gedolim spending their days and nights on social and communal events rather than addressing difficult halachic questions. Perhaps it is something else.
Either way, we must acknowledge that in the current situation, if you are a frum doctor with a life and death question, a Rov, or really just anyone with difficult halachic questions you can dial 2 for Daas Torah and just hold the line.
The writer is an eleventh-generation rabbi, teacher and author. He has written Sacred Days on the Jewish Holidays, Poupko on the Parsha, and hundreds of articles published in five languages. He is a member of the executive committee of the Rabbinical Council of America.
Any Rebbe from yeshiva would pick up the phone for me. I don’t know why you feel a need to denigrate our rabbonim. And, please, ask daas Torah before spreading your canards, including this one. Can’t imagine anyone would approve.
Maybe the issue is that some people feel the need to reach a ‘famous’ or ‘brand name’ rav for all their questions, and then complain that their ‘rav’ of choice is never available. I’m just a regular
frum person. My husband and I manage to get through to our Rav whenever we need in a timely manner. Our Rav will even call us back if he sees a missed call. We also call a Dayan my husband got to know whenever we have a bigger issue. Never had any issues reaching a Rav for issues large or small. I’ll venture to say most of my family and friends will say the same.
This is coming from the guy that says that Dems align with Jewish values.
But in all seriousness I dunno what planet you live on but my husband I have a rav that answers us pretty quickly even if he initially misses our phone call.
Sounds really important.
Maybe get in the car and drive over there.
A few times.
How could you be so spoiled to expect others to be ready to answer your calls?
Hi there.
I just read your article and came away really confused.
First of all, I am not exactly sure what prompted you to write this article at this particular time.
Perhaps it was a way to send some sort of message to someone that you might try to prove a point to, and if that is the case I don’t think that this is a fair platform to post something like that.
Second of all, you make a point by bringing a proof from your grandfather calling Rav moshe zatzal, perhaps those days were a little different, as not everyone had their own cell phone to just call up a rabbi at any given moment, therefore it may have been a little easier to get through, (just a speculation)
Third of all, you are reflecting at the time of the chofetz Chaim , interesting, I didn’t know that the Chofetz Chaim had a phone, had I known I for sure would have called him
All jokes aside. I honestly don’t know who your Rabbonim are, but every one of my Rabbis, whether world renown Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbeim from the USA, or the Mir in Yerushalyim, my local Rabbi my local Dayan, and other mentors that I’ve been lucky to have over the years, all pick up, or return my phone calls without fail! Obviously I have to respect their time, if someone is giving a shiur at 1230 pm, I know that they don’t have their phones on them I will wait until after shiur.
To some it all up, I am here to give a shoutout, and a tremendous Yadher Koach, to all the Rabbeim, Marbitzie Torah, and on top of all our very own Tzadik Hagaon Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky Shlita, that is 100 percent devoted to the klall 24 hours a day. He should have Koach to continue his tremendous Avodas Hakodesh until the coming of moshiach.
The last article of yours I read was political in nature. This one is just divisive and untrue. Yes there are many rabbonim who don’t have a minute to themselves but most will get back to you as soon as they can. Especially ones you have a relationship with. You may want to put the pen down.
Maybe in the moder orthodox world, Rabbanim are hard to get ahold of. You probably need to speak with their secretary first.
Todays Gedolim are pretty easy to get ahold of. Most have calling hours, and in an emergency there are people that can be called to get ahold of them. (Calling teh yeshiva they’re at)
This article screams a “holier than though” vibe, its pathetic.
Modern orthodox rabbit who worships the democrats and denigrates actual rabbanim, he is no better than reform/conservative, if not worse as at least everyone know reform/conservative are just JINOs.
There is no excuse whatsoever to attack Rabanim in the way this guy does. We must have respect for our chashuvah Rabanim who are moiser nefesh yomam velayala to help ppl’
In the zechus of respecting our Rabanim may we be zoche to Mashiach!!!!!!!
EAT SOME HUMBLE PIE
There are literally hundreds (likely thousands) of great Rabbis – many are younger than you yet they are well versed in many matters, and then there are Many rabbis that each have expertise in certain fields and are super helpful and will tell you if it’s out of their league!
They would have the answer for you, or the right address in case of difficulty.
If you want to write a hot article, it should be about the thousands of Jews that unfortunately don’t have their own family Rav – I definitely hope you have one, because most young Rabbis today do!
Halacha Hotline
Rabbi Forst
718 337 8370
Who is the new Face to VIN, with hard left leaning articles?
Maybe ask Obama.
He’s liberal
This writer makes many points in this essay that rub me the wrong way:
I go back to the days when my grandfather, Rabbi Boruch Poupko was a young Rov in Pittsburgh and could call Reb Moshe Feinstein, Rav Henkin, or his Rebbe from Yeshiva Reb Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik with any question he might have had. I reflect on the days Gedolim like the Chofetz Chaim, R’ Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, R’ Zelig Epstein, R’ Shmuel Birnbaum, and so many others were able to spend hours upon hours answering questions, taking phone calls, writing letters, and being responsive.
Our rabbanim are spending their days and nights doing the same!!!
Perhaps this has to do with the Bracha and Simcha industries that have so many of our Gedolim spending their days and nights on social and communal events rather than addressing difficult halachic questions.
The flippant attitude used here suggests this article was not written by someone who is really a rav
Either way, we must acknowledge that in the current situation, if you are a frum doctor with a life and death question, a Rov, or really just anyone with difficult halachic questions you can dial 2 for Daas Torah and just hold the line.
Does the writer really believe that the doctors don’t have a direct access number to the necessary rabbanim???
I am not sure where you live, however, where I live we are blessed with a plethora of special rabbonim who have dedicated their lives to the k’lal. I am acutely aware that there are certain rabbanim that are much more “in demand” and as such if I would need to reach one of them at any given moment it would be quite difficult. However, we also have a whole slew of newer, younger less “in demand” rabbanim who are much easier to reach despite their busy schedules (teaching, davening, shiur, carpool, kids, wife etc…) that they keep up with just to make it financially. In a situation where my rav would tell me that we need to bring this shaila to one of the “leading” rabbanim because it’s an emergency we would be able to pull it off.
In addition, I take umbrage with the casula way that this sentence wa written in:
“Perhaps this has to do with the Bracha and Simcha industries that have so many of our Gedolim spending their days and nights on social and communal events rather than addressing difficult halachic questions.”
It seems that this young fellow is trying to say why he feels he is the appropriate person to answer any and all sort of shailos. Because his calls are not always answered on the first ring. Or at least as likely, the poskim do not respond to him instantly via text. As amply noted before, getting through to senior poskim, rabbonim and even gedolim is far from impossible.
I distinctly recall back in 4th grade learning parshas Yisro where Moshe Rabbeinu received the recommendation to set up a “court system” so this way people don’t have to wait on hold all day. Baruch Hashem, we have such a system set up where we have the local rabbanim, city leading rabbanim, country leading rabbanim, worldwide leading rabbanim, etc… I have no question that if your local rav tells you that this is a life and death shaila that needs the leading authorities of the generation to decide that together with your loal rav you will reach someoe of that caliber no matter the time of day or night.
One thing is very clear from all the comments here and from my own personal experience, none of us have ever had any issue getting through to our poskim and Rabbonim. And it is absolutely disgraceful that you badmouth our Heilige Poskim and Rabbonim who literally give up their lives for me and you. they don’t get paid, and if they do, it’s minimal, they do it as a Chessed.
These Rabbonim barely have a minute to themselves. I have seen it with my own eyes. I sincerely hope that you are able to gather up the courage and somehow ask Mechila from them publicly, as they are the polar opposite of what you describe and I would think twice before saying anything about such holy people. You are playing with fire, and I hope you don’t get burnt.
Besides for the fact that there is zero Toeles in writing such an article even if it were to be true, as I don’t see how this would change anything.
There are many other constructive ways to go about it.
I never had an issue reaching Gedolim and Poskim such as Rav Shmuel Kamentsky, Rav Hillel David, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Shmuel Feuerst or Rav Elya Brudny within a day. Till recently Rav Aharon Schechter was also quite accessible. Rav Meir Stern and Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel also have phones that they answer but it’s easier to call the person in charge who gives the message over and calls back (and takes note if it’s an emergency). Plus I’m available as well if you need.
For some reason, all the rabbis in the phone book blocked the same guy’s phone number.
I suppose the writer has encountered this problem in real life of he wouldn’t have written the article, but I question his conclusions as to the causes and the usefulness of publishing the article.
Seems a little superficial.
I don’t know what prompted this article nor do I care. Your article seems to be written out of ignorance or just lazy to call a different Rabbi. My Dayan, if he doesn’t pick up the phone always calls back. My Rav who his busier was the one that hired the Dayan. But if I need to get a hold of the Rav, I usually can.
If I was a Rabbi I’d probably ignore a call from him too. This guy has no respect for Yidishkeit and is just out to promote liberal ideas and denigrate frum yidden under the disguise of a ‘Rabbi Meyuchas’
I think it’s quit simple why this authors calls don’t get picked up nowadays. Nowadays there is caller ID, and they see it’s this clown and simply ignore him.
I for one never had any issue reaching poskim with questions. Whether it be the Rov of my neighborhood or depending on the question, a Rov who has expertise in a specific field.
Rabbi Steinmentz in Boro Park Skver Dayan – any shalla any time.
Rabbi Miller (Eisenshtat) from Boro Park – Any shalla
Rabbi Ausch any medical related shalla
I am sure there are many more I have missed and do not know from Lakewood, Monsey, Monroe. etc etc.
Besides, One does not have to know it all to be a Rabbi, he can refer certain Shallos to others.
This is so weird and oddly specific. How this author thinks this is a widespread problem worth writing about, even on a platform as pitiful as this, is beyond me.
I’ve not known anyone to experience difficulty getting in touch with a Rebbi or Rav anytime, and in fact know rabbanim who answer far too many questions beyond their purview.
Lakewood Medical Halacha Center
HOTLINE 732.276.2183
WHATSAPP 732.710.9897
EMAIL [email protected]
Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t even have a phone.
I am a member of a kehilla I have a shul rov to whom I ask my Shailos. During Covid a family member was taken to the hospital right before Shabbos a call to Chaim Aruchim at 2 am Friday night was answered promptly. A few times I needed a shaila answered when my rov wasn’t available so once I called the Lakewood halacha hotline and once I called Far Rockaway. One thing that does need fixing perhaps is a rov to whom you can confide in if you have a personal issue, Many shul rabbonim can answer a shaila, but often don’t have the life experience to tackle marriage issues, chinuch issues etc.
i have had the zechus of being a rebbe for over 30 years and maintain regular contact with the talmidim from the different periods and institutions I have taught in. Before and after teaching a full day, I answer shaalos of all types. Doing so by phone was unsustainable, so I allowed technology to enter my life. And so I am available at all times, responding by text to the less urgent queries, by phone for the shaalos requiring personal contact, and in person, when needed. My colleagues, the heroes that comprise my social circle, do the same and they are an inspiration. We are far from the “daas torah” of the giants who you speak of. But I have seen the clear siyatta dishmaya that Hashem gives to those who take acharayus for those who turn to them.
Plenty of Rabbonim to answer halacha shailos across the board. But da’as torah and hashkafa is another thing. Not many are qualified, if any! The idea of da’as torah has been stretched to anyone who holds a rabbinic post or is a talmudic figure. There’s a lot more than that that needs to be acquired to truly be qualified as one who can be relied upon to make unequivocal decisions.
My Dear Cousin and Friend,
Just please get yourself a local Rav as your Rebbe and ask him your shailos. If anything is more complicated, he can surely ask his Rav just as Moshe Rabbeinu established a system and hierarchy. You need not jump to the top of the line. Asei lecha Rav applies daily, not just when you have a rare shailah. You need a relationship with your Rav. My chavrusa has a weekly call with two chashuveh Rabbanim in Eretz Yisrael because he has a relationship with them and he didn;t start calling when a crisis arose. A local chashuveh Rav’s Rosh Hayeshiva was niftar so he promptly established a relationship with a different Rav and asked him to become his Rebbe. Daas Torah means to live your life with guidance, not just when you have the very difficult questions.
We all need to have a personal Rebbe and Rav, not just for times of crisis.
R’ Elchanan, with all due respect your version of Daas Torah indeed requires you to wait on hold. Those who constantly ask sheilos don’t wait on hold. They actually see their Rav quite often in person and if they have a more complex issue, their Rav is there to guide them.
Finally, as many others have noted, there are a number of Rabbanim and halacha hotlines that are available all the time.
May you have much hatzlacha!
For life and death shailah as there are a few good halachic soricrs, one of which is Chayim Aruchim.
What type of questions ? There are many daily life questions that could be decided by people themselves and make their decisions on their own. Not right to tie up rabbonim with , ” Should I buy a house ? Which suit should I wear at a wedding ? Is sushi a Shabbos meal ? ”
You get the idea.
Daas Torah = your local Rav the Godol Hador. problem solved
Rabbi Ausch always is available
My father z”l taught me that if someone tells you that he is DAAS TORAH, turn around and run as far away from him as possible.
We live in a world where bnai yeshiva graduate and get called “Rabbi”. Unfortunately, they are lacking in yedios hatorah, having learned just 8 mesechtos. They may even have learned the Mishna Berura , even memorized it. What’s missing is SHIMUSH TALMIDAI CHACHOMJM.
The fifth part of Shulchan Aruch.
Until then, I am just a Mister, and not a Rabbi.
Hashem, please save us from the chillul Hashem, caused by those who do not say ” I don’t know “, but say instead “it seems to me that…”
Is this the new Rabbi Yair Hoffman V2?