Hirhurim - Abandoned by the Rabbis?

Gil at Hirhurim has an interesting post about a new book he received and the general feeling of abandonment by the Rabbis. Worth reading.

My father always used to feel frustrated by many roshei yeshivot giving psak on topics in which they have no experience and don't completely know the exact metzios or necessary facts on the topic. He felt it was not right that Rabbis that have never been in a business meeting, business environment, and never had the pressure to network or close a deal could properly advise talmidim or members of a community on what to do when confronted with a halachicaly questionably situation such as women in the work environment or lunch at a non-kosher restaurant.

I think one of the phenomenons that has led to this is shift of religious Judaism in to the Yeshiva setting. I don't mean being more yeshivish; I feel like big communities are breaking up, more people are learning for a living or until later points in life. As a result, there is a smaller role (and fewer jobs) for community rabbis. The Rosh Yeshiva has become the posek for an increasing number of people. This is a problem for three main reasons 1) the lack of knowledge of the facts as mentioned above, and 2) many of these rabbonim are learning and teaching gemara all day and (yes I am saying this) may not be properly qualified to give a psak halacha for a baal habayit. 3) These rabbonim are advisers and mentors to students in Yeshiva. Quite often, they give what I like to call a "psak hashkafa" and a suggestions "it is better for one to stay away from" type of psak, as if they were advising a talmid.

By the way, those of you who think these issues would not exist if living in Israel or wrong. While, yes, there is a greater overall knowledge and understanding regarding religious observance (as well as more kosher restaurants,) there is much judgment given and less sensitivity at times. When I was living in Israel, I had to always think what they would think if the saw a religious person do X or Y.