My Halachic Core Principles - 1

In trying to identify how left-wing Orthodoxy has stepped over the line, I'm attempting to outline my Core Halachic Principles

First
My methodology is primarily based upon Beth Yosef and Rema - namely by surveying posqim and coming up with a consensus. R Ovadiah Yosef also employs this at times.

Source
See Sefer HaHinuch 78 on Acharei Rabbim l'Hatot.

Some major exemptions

1. Minhag hamaqom such as insular communities - EG Breuer's or Hassidic

And
2. Minhag Avot
See Rema Choshen Mishpat 25

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Some underlying axioms

Halachah through last Beit Din Hagdol in the Lishkah is axiomatic - equivalent of Halalach L'Moseh miSinai. If they had authored a mishnah it would have become THE authority.
The problem? They didn't and so all Oral Law is an approximation.

Source:
See Mishneh Torah Hilchot Mamrim 1:1

Post Hurban
Halacha devolves upon
• Tutorial Authority
Such as Master-Apprentice model

• Rabbis

• Oral Traditions such as mimetics etc.

• Precedent

Source Professor Agus

There is little legislative authority anymore -
Rather authority is analogous to English Common Law and therefore
Case law sets precedent

I reject "Natural Law"

I also Reject those Maimonidists - NOT Teimanim - who claim one Halacha is correct to the exclusion of others

Teimanim follow Rambam via Minhag Avot. No problem

While Neo-Maimonideans are repeating the R Eleizer Hagadol position of Tannur Achnai, that is they are correct by Divine Fiat in face of acharei Rabbim l'hatot

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Catholic Israel IMHO does not legislate so much as it can veto a given p'saq

Illustration RMF in Igrot Moshe prohibited Shabbos clocks except for lamps

AIUI, even RZ Frankel was also saying that Catholic Israel can vote on which Minhaggim to perpetuate and which ones fall into disuse. But not to vote on Core Halachah. I have not yet finalized this.

I agree with my friends Michah Berger and David Willig on several issues

• Halacha allows a range of valid P'saq - that's how Catholic Israel can VOTE for option X over option Y
EG 3 matzos vs. 2 matzos

•. Halachah has rules of thumb not absolutes

•. Halachah flows and meanders like a river. It is not as rigid as a railroad track, nor as amorphous as gaseous air. It has boundaries and it flows. One does not reach back 1000 years are restore a norm from then and ignore subsequent development.

Imagine North American Football devolving back to Rubgy without a forward pass!

Shalom
RRW