following one posek

Asked by George · October 1, 2003 · Ethics

Question

Here's what I don't get. We're all supposed to find a posek and stick with him, right? I guess we're supposed to pick someone we trust and whose hashkafot we aggree with. But if I can make a choice on whom I wish to follow, why can't I choose a psak that I like for any given situation (assuming its coming from a ligitimate rav). Why is it so important to follow one posek? For example,let's say I aggree with Rav Abadi's psak on gelatin, because it makes sense to me. Is it wrong of me to accept that psak, since I do not usually go to him with my she'elot? Sorry if this question sounds ignorant disrespectful. I'm being quite sincere. Thanks

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

If you were learned enough to decide what is right and what isn't, you'd have to be a qualified Posek yourself. We're all good enough, and smart enough, and capable to find a quality Posek & stick to him. We need to let him decide which laws make sense. Otherwise we're not following Halachah, we're following our whims. AA