Parshas Shoftim 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
ובאת אל הכהנים הלוים ואל השפט אשר יהיה בימים ההם ודרשת והגידו לך את דבר המשפט ... (יז-ט)
A true Rav recognizes that giving a Halachic ruling isn’t about saving face or appearing knowledgeable, it’s about rendering the absolute truth of the Torah. Unlike secular professions where people might feel compelled to project certainty to maintain professional credibility, a Rav knows that a incorrect ruling carries spiritual consequences.
One year, a few days before Pesach, R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, needed to take a specific medicine and wanted to be entirely certain about the precise nature of its ingredients. Looking closely at the label, he spotted a complex chemical term and based on a logical deduction about the substance’s Latin root, he reasoned that he understood what the compound was. Still, when it came to making a decision that required absolute certainty, R’ Yaakov refused to rely solely on his own assumptions. He decided to walk down to the local pharmacy to double-check with a professional.
At the store, R’ Yaakov presented his question to the practitioner behind the counter. The pharmacist took the query seriously and began pulling heavy reference manuals and trade books from the shelves. For a long stretch of time, the man flipped through index after index, searching for the exact compound. Yet, as the minutes ticked by, it became increasingly obvious from the pharmacist’s hesitant body language that he wasn’t finding the information. Eventually, the pharmacist closed the final volume, turned to R’ Yaakov, and confidently declared that the medicine was completely fine to use.
R’ Yaakov thanked the man politely and left, but he saw right through the interaction. It was clear that the pharmacist had simply been too embarrassed to admit he didn’t know the answer. In his line of work, confessing ignorance felt like a blow to his professional standing, so he offered a reassuring answer instead of an honest one.
Reflecting on the moment afterward, R’ Yaakov pointed out to his talmidim that this encounter highlighted the profound difference between a secular professional and a true Torah authority. A professional often feels pressured to produce a quick, authoritative answer at all costs to protect their reputation, even if they have to invent something. A true Rav, however, carries a sacred responsibility where guessing is simply never an option.
To illustrate his point, R’ Yaakov shared a story about the Beis Halevi, R’ Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l, from the time he was first appointed as the chief rabbi of the city of Brisk. The Beis Halevi was renowned across Europe as a towering genius whose depth of learning was practically unmatched, and the community was thrilled to have such a brilliant leader. Shortly after his arrival, a member of the town came to him with a particularly difficult question. The new Rav listened intently, paused, and then simply said, “I don’t know.” The questioner was stunned, but assumed it was just a rare oversight. Soon after, another resident brought a second issue to the rabbinical court, and to everyone’s utter shock, the Beis Halevi gave the exact same response: “I don’t know.” When it happened a third time, panic began to spread among the city leaders. The town notables quickly gathered for an emergency meeting to figure out what to do. They argued that while he might be a brilliant scholar capable of giving deep lomdish shiurim, a community needed a practical authority who could actually answer everyday questions and provide clear rulings. Regretfully, they decided they had no choice but to ask their newly hired rabbi to step down.
A delegation of prominent leaders walked to the Beis Halevi’s home to gently break the news and express their deep disappointment. Hearing their concerns, the Beis Halevi didn’t get defensive; instead, he smiled warmly and reassured them. He explained that there was no need to worry and that, moving forward, he would readily address all of their future questions.
He then revealed his true intention: he had intentionally held back his answers to establish a vital principle right at the start of his tenure. He wanted both the community and himself to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if a moment ever came where he truly did not know an answer, he would never let pride or embarrassment push him into guessing.
For a true authority, admitting “I don’t know” isn’t a sign of weakness but the ultimate proof of integrity and responsibility.