In constructing the Jewish way, the rabbis found themselves elevating two competing values--the dialects of debate and setting a clear normative path for behavioral expectations. The first text we explore is locus classicus for when these two values come into conflict.
Rabbi Abba said that Shmuel said: For three years Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagreed. These said: The halakha is in accordance with our opinion, and these said: The halakha is in accordance with our opinion. Ultimately, a Divine Voice emerged and proclaimed: Both these and those are the words of the living God. However, the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel.
The Gemara asks: Since both these and those are the words of the living God, why were Beit Hillel privileged to have the halakha established in accordance with their opinion?
The reason is that they were agreeable and forbearing. They would teach both their own statements and the statements of Beit Shammai.
Moreover, they prioritized the statements of Beit Shammai to their own statements.
Source #1 Guide
1. What is the value of debate? How does the Divine Voice support it?
2. What is something you once thought you knew but were wrong about? Can you describe your learning process?
3. What is the value for a person of having a clear behavioral norm? Does it make a difference if the person is an adult or a child? Why or why not?
4. What is the communal value of having a clear behavioral norm?
5. Do you find anything surprising about the proclamation of the Divine Voice? If so, why? If not, why not?
(ג) אע"פ שנחלקו ב"ש [כנגד ב"ה] ...לא נמנעו ב"ש לישא [נשים] מב"ה ולא ב"ה מב"ש אלא נהגו האמת והשלום ביניהן שנא' (זכריה ח׳:י״ט) האמת והשלום אהבו.
Despite the fact that Beit Shammai debated with Beit Hillel [regarding marriages]...
yet Beit Shammai did not refrain from marrying women from Beit Hillel
nor did Beit Hillel refrain from marrying women from Beit Shammai.
Rather, they acted in the interests of truth and peace between them, since it is said, "they loved truth and peace" (Zech. 8:19).
Source #2 Guide
1. What presumptions does this text make about the society it describes?
2. According to this text, what commitments are more important than our communal or political disagreements?
3. What do you think is important about the last line of this text? What does it add to the discourse?
תני רב יחזקאל עשה כדברי בית שמאי עשה כדברי בית הלל עשה רב יוסף אמר עשה כדברי בית שמאי לא עשה ולא כלום דתנן מי שהיה ראשו ורובו בסוכה ושלחנו בתוך הבית בית שמאי פוסלין ובית הלל מכשירין אמרו להם בית הלל לבית שמאי מעשה שהלכו זקני בית שמאי וזקני בית הלל לבקר את רבי יוחנן בן החורנית מצאוהו שהיה ראשו ורובו בסוכה ושלחנו בתוך הבית ולא אמרו לו כלום אמרו להם ומשם ראיה אף הם אמרו לו אם כן היית נוהג לא קיימת מצות סוכה מימיך רב נחמן בר יצחק אמר עשה כדברי בית שמאי חייב מיתה דתנן אמר רבי טרפון אני הייתי בא בדרך והטתי לקרות כדברי בית שמאי וסכנתי בעצמי מפני הלסטים אמרו לו כדאי היית לחוב בעצמך שעברת על דברי בית הלל:
Rav Yeḥezkel taught: One who acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai has acted correctly One who acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel acted correctly.
Rav Yosef said: One who acts in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai has done nothing and his action is worthless...
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak stated: One who acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai has acted so egregiously that he is liable to receive the death penalty...
Source #3 Guide
1. Which rabbinic position do you find more compelling? Why?
2. Which position do you find most repugnant? Why?
3. If we import the language from the academic discourse in political science, we find the following responses to behavioral difference.
I. Pluralism --
II. Tolerance --
III. Deviance --
Try to define each of these terms in your own words.
4. Each of the three responses to behavioral differences are essential to creating and maintaining relationships, communities, and societies. Describe 3 behaviors, one for each that you think deserve the following response:
I. Pluralism:_______________________
II. Tolerance:______________________
III. Deviance:______________________