To Tell or not to Tell

To Tell or not to Tell

Reuven and Shimon are debating a concept in halachah. They are arguing back and forth, and it would be obvious to any observer that Shimon is in fact a bar samcha (an expert in this area), but Reuven stubbornly stands his ground, refusing to concede. As a last resort Shimon says, “I heard that Rabbi Y. paskens as I say.” Now, Rabbi Y. is an adam gadol (a very well-respected individual), and Shimon knows that Reuven unilaterally accepts his psak. The argument is over, in favor of the correct halachah.

The truth is that when Shimon quoted the adam gadol, he was making it up. In fact, he had never heard the adam gadol speak on this topic—he is certain, though, that since this is a straightforward halachic matter, the adam gadol would concur. In extreme circumstances, such as the above scenario (the status of Shimon as a bar samcha and his certainty that his only recourse—due to Reuven’s resistance—is to cite their rav) this strategy is actually supported by halachah.

Conversely, there may be a situation where a person is publicizing the opinion of a certain adam gadol, but is aware that evoking the name of that adam gadol would make it less acceptable to the audience. In such a case one may make the statement without attributing it to the rav—despite the fact that one is usually mandated to repeat Torah b’shem omro (in the name of the originator), and not naming him may appear to be a slight to the kavod (honor) of his rav.

https://halacha2go.com?number=596

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.