Orthodox Conundrum Does the Torah Demand Independent Thought? Rabbi Aryeh Klapper on Gedolim, Authority and Halacha (277)
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Jan 19, 2026 Rabbi Aryeh Klapper, Dean of the Center for Modern Torah Leadership, delves into the tension between authority and independent thought in religious life. He argues that kavod, or respect, should be voluntary and warns against enforced reverence that undermines personal responsibility. Klapper explores the 'gedolim' as a political construct, challenges blind adherence to authority, and emphasizes the importance of individual moral accountability. He also discusses the necessary balance of communal decisions and personal judgment in navigating halachic authority.
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Voluntary Respect Beats Imposed Honor
- Kavod is healthiest when it is given voluntarily rather than imposed on people or demanded by law.
- Imposed kavod signals a breakdown in relationships and damages both giver and receiver.
Camp Rebbe And The Bimah Move
- Rabbi Klapper recalls a camp rebbe who made boys stand to show respect and found the practice felt forced and unhealthy.
- He also avoided standing ovations by moving to the bimah early to protect his ego from addictive kavod.
Authority Is Personal And Political
- A Rebbe Muvaḥak is subjective and exists when a student personally regards someone as their primary mentor.
- 'Gdolim' as a category is often political and doesn't automatically create universal halakhic authority.
