Models of authority and the duty of obedience in halakhic literature

The status of religious authority and the obligation to obey its rulings are crucial concerns of traditional societies, and they are repeatedly voiced in halakhic literature. The ways in which traditional societies contend with these issues may be indicative of a basic ethos, extending far beyond the level of interpersonal relations. As it is embodied in certain persons or institutions, authority often reflects not only a necessary social order but also the most basic values of a traditional culture.