RABBINIC AUTHORITY- POWER SHARING
Old and New Formulas
The American synagogue is an eminently democratic
institution. Its boards and committees vote on a wide variety of issues. Such complete democracy is, of, course, at variance with the official traditional view of rabbinic authority. According to it, every aspect of human life is governed by obedience to God and the necessary guidance is provided by the Written Law and Oral Law entrusted into the hands of rabbinic interpreters; the scholars might in fact vote but within the parameters of tradition which carried the day. It is somewhat akin to a statement made about Abraham Lincoln who queried his cabinet on an issue and they took a united stand against him. He took the opposite view and indicated that although it was a vote of ten to one, the action would follow the single vote.
The rabbinic ideal has been taught in the literature for the last two thousand years and it is ever present as a basic substrata of all action taken by the rabbinate. As the uncontested arbiters of the Divine tradition, their voice should rule Jewish life and the Jewish people.
Although this may have represented the rabbinic dream, it has never been the reality. The American synagogue with its power sharing between the rabbi and the congregation has been reflected to a greater of lesser degree throughout our long history. Compromises and concessions have been made on both sides in all ages. They reflect the strength of the lay community or the rabbinate. The struggle and tension was often destructive, but as seen over the long span of the centuries it represents one of the most creative forces within Judaism . This tension between the