Natural Flavors etc.
Question
As a note to the earlier question about natural flavors and crushed beetles, how are those of us greatly unlearned in industrial kashrut to differentiate between "propaganda" and "legitimate" kashrut concerns posited by many rabbanim, poskim, and kashrut orgs.? Can we realistically second guess rabbanim and major kashrut organizations on everything? How do we even know what to "call" them on? This leads to my second point of frustration. Clearly, one must identify for oneself a rav to bring these and many other halachic questions. Yet, with what measuring stick does one "measure" a rav to ascertain if he adheres to the same "propaganda" we are trying to escape from?
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiYour second point is the only answer to your first point, without studying enough on your own to call their bluff. We spent a full radio show to address this issue. Korach was a bad guy and so was Doeg and Achitofel and Shevnah and others. These people were very learned and sometimes seemed much more learned and respectable than their Tzadik counterpart. If you remember the Korach story, he and his crowd avoided picking up "Ohn Ben Pelet" because she had uncovered her hair and stood in front of the house, and they would not come anywhere near her. They seemed like big Tzadikim. Even Doeg and Achitofel who were against King David were considered by many to be big Tzadikim until years after David's death when the Beit Hamikdash was built and God made a miracle on behalf of David, thus clearing his name. All the people of Korach were severely punished, even though they were just following what they thought to be a qualified Talmid Chacham. It is obvious that we are responsible for the Rabbi we chose and there are many sources and proofs to this. The big question is how do we chose. The Gemora says that "if your Rabbi is not similar to an angel of God, do not learn from him." A good Rabbi is one that is in control of his Midot. The more we contol our own Midot by studying and following "over-the-counter" Musar Seforim, the more we can tell who fits into that category. Additionally, he must be learned in all parts of Shas, not just the Mishnah Beruras in popular areas. There is an area in Hilchot Deot in the Rambam that can give you more insight, but I can't list all issues "Al Regel Achat." Suffice it to know that it is a requirement for you to determine who to trust and the only way God can make such a requirement, is if he gave you the tools with which to do it. Aaron Abadi