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Thought for the Day: Heicha K'dusha -- Part II: You Must Have a Rav

In a (very) recent TftD, I reported on a psak I got from R' Fuerst, shlita, regarding heicha k'dusha. I was surprised that I got several replies (from those who get TftD by email). I was surprised because (a) I didn't think it was very controversial; (b) I was actually worried that it wasn't going to be very interesting to anyone. (Why did I write it? I like when I get an answer to a question that you are not likely to find elsewhere.)

One friend, with whom I have a long history of comparing answers to questions like that (what, exactly, is the category of those questions? questions that no one else asks) between R' Fuerst, shlita, and R' Zucker, shlita. We were discussing the psak at a siyum last night and he started chuckling. "You won't be surprised that R' Zucker might say differently." While he had not asked precisely that question, he had been told by R' Zucker that when he davens mincha at a shul that doesn't say tachanun, then he should definitely say it after aleinu. As opposed to R' Fuerst who told me I didn't need to, and he didn't even see any particular reason to say it -- after all, that is their minhag.

All this discussion, I was again struck by the importance of having a rav. Not just someone you call when you want to know what to do with that fleishig spoon you used to stir milk into your coffee. A rav with whom you have a relationship, who knows you. Many times the answer to a question depends on how it is asked. Not because whining will get you the psak you want (instead of need). The point is that there are many factors that go into a psak halacha -- many that you don't even know about. When a rav knows you and your personality and how you live, that all gives him more information to make an informed and balanced decision.

So let's end on another question I asked many years ago. I was invited to daven an early mincha and there were just 10 of us. They started discussing about doing a heicha k'dusha as not everyone had arrived on time and it was the middle of the work day. I said (I know you'll be surprised), "I came here as a favor, but I do not want to daven a heicha k'dusha. I'll wait and daven later if that is your decision." They decided on a full mincha. I later asked R' Fuerst if it would have been right to leave if they decided they wanted to do a heicha k'dusha. R' Fuerst told me that even if a heicha k'dusha was not warranted, that is not sufficient reason to break a minyan. (I often ask after the fact to clarify just in case it happens again.)

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