Chumrot

Question

Thought you might find this interesting. I once heard a shiur given by a Rosh Yeshiva (of a very black hat yeshiva) to yeshiva boys about chumrot. He said that every few years a "new chumrah" becomes popular and everyone jumps on the bandwagon without any idea what they are doing, and this is totally wrong. (I once saw a pizza store that advertised "Chalav Yisroel and Glatt Kosher") He also said that when it says in Seforim (Mishna Berurah) Baal Nefesh Yachmir, a person who is not truly on that level and never-the-less acts stringently is guilty of Gaavah and Yehorah. He gave a minimum of 3 criteria before anyone could even consider being on the level of a Baal Nefesh. (in truth, you would probably disagree with one of the criteria in particular- but the concept is still good). I also heard from this Rosh Yeshiva - regarding a certain food manufacturer that was accused of kashrus violations and was "forced" to change over their entire process - that a certain well known and recognized "Black Hat" Posek said there was nothing at all wrong with this manufacturer and everyone was mistaken. I asked the Rosh Yeshiva why he does not publicize this. He answered that besides the fact that he was not asked his opinion, more important is that the "velt" does not want to hear what they would call a "Kulah" and instead of accepting the Psak, they would be "Mevatel" the Posek.