We have all heard the term "Da'as Torah". There is much scholarly literature analyzing the sources [or lack thereof] and history of this term. I am not going there with this post.
I will just take Da'as Torah as a given and ask the following question - Whose opinion represents true Da'as Torah? The Gra or the Ba'al Shem Tov? Rav Shach or the Lubavitcher Rebbe? Satmar Reb Zalman or Satmar Reb Aharon? Bobov Stam or Bobov 45? Classic "Ger" or Ha-Gaon Rav Shaul "Ger"? The "Zilberman" shittah or everyone else? Meshichist Lubavitch or non-Meshichist Lubavitch [I am not sure that there are true Lubavitch chasidim who don't believe that the Rebbe is Moshiach but to find out would require one to interview them all. I was told by a childhood friend who is a shaliach in Florida that every Lubavitcher believes in his heart that the Rebbe is Moshiach. The only difference is that some will publicly admit it and some will not], YU or Torah Vo'daas? Netiv Aryeh or Yeshivat Hakotel? Aish Hatorah or Ohr Someach? Chovevei Torah or JTS? Camp Lavi or Morasha? The Yankees or Mets? J and J Cholov Yisrael cheese or Haolam Cholov Yisrael cheese? Can we say אלו ואלו ? If you would ask each side if the opposing side is דברי א-להים חיים they would probably argue that it is not. Not probably but [in most cases] definitely.
So I would like to try to define "Da'as Torah": An opinion ["Da'as"] that reflects the will of the Torah. GREAAAATTT!!! But then the arguments start as to what opinion represents the true will of the vast and multi-layered Torah. [The answer of course is what I think and not what you think....:-)].
I saw a quote from Ha-Gaon Rav Dov Landa Shlita, the RY of Slabodka in Bnei Brak and one of the oldest and most prominent Roshei Yeshiva of our times. He said that questions about medical issues have always been resolved by DOCTORS - so for crying out loud, follow their guidelines!!!!
TRUE DA'AS TORAH!!!!
Open up the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch and Halacha seforim and see that Rabbis never fancied themselves as doctors [with the Rambam and other rabbonim who were actually doctors being notable exceptions]. When there was a medical question they first asked the doctors for the medical facts before making a decision. If the doctors say that we need to socially distance - it is not even a question that we have to listen. PASHUT! If they say we need a mask - then OF COURSE we should wear a mask. [I wear a Nike "Air Jordan" mask]. And if we would all wear masks then frum publications would have no more excuses to not publish pictures of women 😃.
Somehow, this axiomatic reality seems to be lost on the masses. I see weddings where there are almost no masks and people are dancing with each other like normal. There is no Corona. LET'S TANTZ ["dance" in Persian]!! Insane. I saw a sign up in Geula proclaiming that since we [i.e. those pious ones who "love" Medinas Yisrael] don't take money from the government, we don't have to listen to them and have kept our shuls and yeshivos open. But you [Reshaim?] who take money from the government [רח"ל!!] have to listen and closed your institutions. WOW!! Throw thousands of years of Halacha and a pasuk [ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם] into the waste bin רח"ל. We don't have to listen to doctors!! So what that millions have gotten sick and hundreds of thousands have died from this highly contagious disease. Only Goyim died. Jews aren't affected by illness. As long as we keep learning and davening like normal, everything will be OK.
That is not Da'as Torah but Da'as Shotim ["fools" in Greek]. Reminds me of a comment by Maran Rosh Ha-Yeshiva ztz"l that where there is no Da'as, how can there be Da'as Torah?
Thank G-d for voices like Rav Landa in EY and people like Rav Twerski in the US who speak words of logic and normalcy.
And thank G-d for me b/c if not for me my kids would be orphans and my wife a widow!!!😀😂😂
