Why Do Charedim Always Listen to Their Rabbanim?
In today’s culture of radical individualism and skepticism toward authority, the Charedi world’s deep deference to Rabbanim can seem baffling—if not dangerous—to outsiders. The media often portray this as blind obedience, implying that Charedim are discouraged from thinking for themselves. But this view is deeply mistaken and misunderstands the Charedi approach, which is rooted in Torah, intellect, and thousands of years of mesorah.
Let’s explore what it really means when Charedim say: “We follow our Rabbanim.” We'll see that it is not a rejection of thinking, but an act of thinking at the highest level—with humility and faith.
The Torah Obligation to Listen to the Gedolei HaTorah
From the earliest moments of Klal Yisrael’s history, we were commanded not only to keep the mitzvos of the Torah, but to listen to the Sages who interpret and apply it in every generation. The Torah states explicitly:
“וּבָאתָ אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְאֶל הַשּׁוֹפֵט אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם... וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּךָ.”
“You shall come to the Kohanim, the Levi’im, and to the judge who will be in those days... and you shall do according to all that they instruct you.”
— Devarim 17:9-10 [¹]
This is not a vague endorsement of general rabbinic wisdom. The Torah commands us to follow the psak and hora’ah (legal rulings and guidance) of the leaders of each generation. The Rambam writes:
“מי שאינו עושה כהוראת בית דין—עובר בלא תעשה... שנאמר: 'לֹא תָסוּר מִן הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יַגִּידוּ לְךָ'.”
“Anyone who does not act according to the ruling of the Beis Din violates a negative commandment... as it says: ‘Do not turn aside from the word that they tell you.’”
— Rambam, Hilchos Mamrim 1:2 [²]
This obligation flows from emunas chachamim—faith in the wisdom and spiritual vision of Torah sages. This is not about personal charisma or “cult of personality.” It’s about the belief that Torah is divine and that those who have absorbed it deeply, both intellectually and spiritually, are best equipped to guide the nation.
What About Critical Thinking? Are Charedim Supposed to Shut Off Their Brains?
Chas v’shalom. On the contrary, Torah demands rigorous thinking. The very foundation of the yeshiva world is sharp analysis, pilpul, and dialectic back-and-forth.
But there is a difference between thinking critically and being critical of the Torah’s greatest authorities. A thinking person uses their seichel to understand when to defer. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, once said:
“The test of wisdom is not how much you understand on your own, but how much you know when to rely on someone greater than you.”
The Talmud speaks directly about this:
“אפילו אומר לך על ימין שהוא שמאל ועל שמאל שהוא ימין שמע לו”
“Even if [the Sage] tells you that your right is left and your left is right—listen to him.”
— Rashi on Devarim 17:11, based on Sifri [³]
Rashi clarifies: this doesn’t mean that the Rav can redefine reality, but that even when his words challenge your assumptions, you must recognize that his judgment is rooted in Torah, not opinion.
Chazal on Following Gedolim Even When It’s Hard
The Gemara in Berachos 63a says:
“כל מי שמסיר עצמו מדברי תורה נופל לגיהנם”
“Whoever distances himself from the words of Torah falls into Gehinnom.”
— Berachos 63a [⁴]
Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l would often say that the only safety in this world of confusion is to cling to the daas Torah of Gedolei Yisrael. In one of his letters, he wrote:
“אין אנו יודעים כלום לבד ממה שמורים לנו גדולי הדור, שכל חכמתם מושרשת בתורת אמת וביראת שמים אמיתית.”
“We know nothing on our own except that which the Gedolei HaDor teach us, for their wisdom is rooted in the true Torah and in genuine yiras Shamayim.”
— Igros Maran R’ Shach, Vol. 1 [⁵]
Story: Rav Elyashiv and the Broken Refrigerator
Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, one of the greatest poskim of recent generations, was once asked by a neighbor about a Shabbos issue regarding a broken refrigerator light. The neighbor added, “But I already asked another Rav and he said it’s fine.”
Rav Elyashiv paused and replied gently:
“When it comes to questions of medicine, people seek out the best specialist. Why should it be any different with Torah?”
This is not arrogance—it is awe. Just as no one would challenge a top cardiologist by Googling symptoms, so too, Charedim understand that the Gedolim see Torah and reality through lenses we simply don’t possess.
The Role of the Individual: Think Deeply, Follow Humbly
Every Charedi Jew is responsible to learn Torah, to use seichel, to grow in daas and in middos. But we don’t believe that everyone has the same role in national leadership or halachic decision-making.
As the Netziv writes:
“יש דרך בפרט ויש דרך לכלל; היחיד יכול לחיות לפי הבנתו, אבל הציבור צריך ללכת אחרי עיני העדה.”
“There is a path for the individual and a path for the community. An individual may live by his own understanding, but the public must follow the eyes of the congregation [i.e., the leaders].”
— HaEmek Davar, Bamidbar 15:24 [⁶]
This system is not weakness—it’s strength. It's how Klal Yisrael has survived every exile, persecution, and upheaval: not through anarchic self-rule, but by following Torah-guided leadership, generation after generation.
Final Thought: Faith Is Not Blind—It’s Focused
When Charedim follow the rulings and guidance of their Rabbanim, it is not because they are mindless. It’s because they are mindful—aware that the Torah is vast, life is complex, and Hashem gave us a path to navigate it through the Gedolim of each generation.
It’s easy to follow one’s own feelings. But the higher level of thinking is knowing when your own view may be limited—and entrusting yourself to those who see farther because they see through Torah.
Sources
- דברים י״ז:ט–י — "ובאת אל הכהנים... ככל אשר יורוך."
- רמב"ם, הלכות ממרים א:ב — חיוב לשמוע לבית דין.
- רש"י דברים י״ז:י"א — "אפילו אומרים על ימין שהוא שמאל..."
- ברכות ס״ג ע״א — עונש על עזיבת דברי תורה.
- אגרות מרן ר׳ שך, ח"א — חשיבות שמיעת דעת תורה.
- העמק דבר, במדבר ט״ו:כ"ד — הציבור נדרש ללכת אחרי העיניים של העדה.