בבא מציעה י

In the time of the נודע ביהודה, there was a כהן who went off the דרך and wanted to marry a גרושה, in clear violation of הלכה. The נודע ביהודה of course told him in no uncertain terms that he couldn’t do so, but the insolent כהן had strong connections at the highest level of the government and obtained a decree requiring the נודע ביהודה to officiate at the wedding. “בסדר גמור,” said the גאון. “When ordered to do so, there is no ברירה. Prepare the חופה.” Everyone in the city was shocked and they all showed up at the wedding to see this אסור marriage take place. The נודע ביהודה stood under the חופה and said to the חתן “Place the ring on the finger of the כלה and repeat after me:‏הרי את מקדשת לי בטבעת זו כדת הממשלה.” “What?!!!” the חתן exclaimed. The נודע ביהודה responded: “Whats your problem? Your marriage is not in accord with the דת of משה וישראל; it’s in accord with the דת of the ממשלה.”

06/10/2021