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From: samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: "Naive" Poskim
Message-ID: <551@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Apr-85 16:15:24 EST
Article-I.D.: sfmag.551
Posted: Sun Apr 21 16:15:24 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 22-Apr-85 01:33:54 EST
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>       Just as an aside. R. Moshe is only as smart in modern technology as
>  the prson who aks him a question. R. Moshe's knowledge of physics and
>  chemistry is severly limited ( to put it nicely ). If a person asks him a
>  question regarding the use of a shabbat elevator, the answer would depend on
>  the person's ability to explain the exact mechanics of the elevator. 
>                               Eliyahu Teitz.

Eliyahu,  despite  what  some  people say,  Reb Moshe is NOT more
naive than we are.

The secular courts must often consider technical issues which are
beyond  the  expertise  of  the judges. They can, however, handle
such issues - by soliciting testimony from experts. Part  of  the
process   is   to   examine  the  credentials  and  the  possible
biases/interests of the experts offering testimony.

Rabbis are often  faced  with  the  same  type  of   problem.  An
experienced  rav  or  posek  knows  that  he  must determine what
sources are reliable for technical issues and will  not  issue  a
ruling  without getting reliable information from an expert. This
is routine, for instance, in matters of kashrus, where  chemicals
and  processing  are involved. For instance, there is currently a
serious  kashrus  problem  concerning  bugs  in  vegetables  like
broccoli,  cauliflower,  cabbage  etc. (due to a reduction in the
use  of  insecticides).   Some  rabbis  I  know   are   currently
collecting  data  from  the  department  of agriculture, the FDA,
universities, professors, farmers, rabbis around the  world,  and
others,  concerning  infestation of parasites in vegetables. They
have spent months visiting farms, researching data and halacha on
these  issues,  as well as conducting their own experiments. This
search is being conducted after  having consulted with Rav  Moshe
Feinstein   who  gave  them  halachic  guidance,  part  of  which
addressed the  need for  reliable  data,  and  the  criteria  for
acceptability of such data.

It is silly to assume that reknowned poskim are more  naive  than
we are concerning the need for obtaining correct inputs for their
decisions.  I've seen  from personal experience, that poskim  are
scrupulously  careful  to  avoid   being   exploited  or duped by
people posing shaylas. Anyone who examines Rav  Moshe's  teshuvas
can verify that he cites medical opinions when he relies on them,
and that he is shrewd  in  evaluating  the  reliability  of  such
opinions. That's part of the job of a posek.

                        Yitzchok Samet