Q:
Is there a test by which we can tell if a certain rabbi’s hashkafah is 100% reliable?
A:
And the answer is no. There’s no test.
And so you must ask the people who are competent, to see what they think. The gedolei hador are the ones to ask. And what they say, follow their words. That’s all. So if you’re in doubt about a certain person, listen to what the biggest talmidei chachamim tell you about him. Of course sometimes there can be a difference of opinion too, so go after the majority of opinions.
Now, if it’s a close vote then it’s a question but suppose if there is no question at all — all of them say yes, he’s reliable — so then you can have confidence that most likely that person is telling you the truth.
Nobody in this world however is infallible. Everybody can make errors. But in general if that person is approved by the gedolei hador then more or less you can go by what he says.
(December 1993)
