to cantoresq and ,parenthetically to joseph,
The Holocaust raised gigantic theological questions. I just don’t want to start another long drawn-out debate on this here…the only thing that can explain that catastrophe is “hester ponim” to the N’th degree.
Concerning the asking of advice,questioned by cantoresq.It is natural for everyone to do so. I have said consistently that one does NOT have to check his sechel at the door when asking advice.You don’t HAVE to follow the advice if you feel differently. Hence, the Jews who asked for advice from gedolim of all kind before the war but did NOT heed their word (like your talmid of reb Elchonon)did what their own intuition told them. This does not invalidate the aspect of asking advice from rabbonim, gedolim, or family members for all I know.My point is that their advice is human and they are not infallible and G-d did not make them infallible either! It is a warped attitude that was born very recently (daas torah,etc..)This has been amply proven by Rabbi Alfred Kaplan and others. So, it is incorrect to ask the question you asked, because Hashem Yisborach NEVER intended US to believe in their words blindly. We still have bechirah!