What role should Rabbinic guidance play in the area of shidduchim?
We encourage people to discuss these issues with Rabbis, parents, friends, and anyone who can offer insights. We do not encourage people to blindly follow anyone’s advice, regardless of how knowledgeable or pious that person might be. Every individual is different, every personal situation has its own nuances, and there is rarely one line of advice that is appropriate for everyone. It is wise to seek the advice of several people and to use one’s own mind to arrive at a conclusion. In Halachic matters one may not “shop around” for the most convenient opinion. In personal matters that are not strictly defined by Halacha, one owes it to himself to explore a broad range of perspectives and be intellectually involved in determining what fits best for him. One must not use respect for religious authority as an excuse to not think and act independently, nor should one believe that everything in life is a Halachic matter with one correct approach. Issues related to dating, shidduchim, and marr
