by R. Yitzchak Blau
What role does human need play in halakhic rulings? In this characteristically nuanced presentation, Rav Lichtenstein zatza”l addresses this topic. Among other important issues, R. Lichtenstein discusses why a posek is not a supercomputer (pages 6-8),pluralistic themes in the halakha (pages 10-11), the Rav’s approach to these questions (p. 11-12), rulings regarding morally difficult halakhot (p.15-17), Hazal’s ability to transcend historical context (16-19) and how communal pesak raises different issues than rulings for individuals (20-21).
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