Zman Matan Torateinu: Was the Torah Given and Accepted on Shavuot?

I believe with complete faith that the entire Torah now in our hands is the same one that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be upon him..

The thirteen rules were compiled by Rabbi Ishmael b. Elisha for the elucidation of the Torah and for making halakic deductions from it. They are, strictly speaking, mere amplifications of the seven Rules of Hillel, and are collected in the Baraita of R. Ishmael, forming the introduction to the Sifra and reading a follows:

1. Kal wa-ḥomer: Identical with the first rule of Hillel (a minore ad maius - an argument that denotes an inference from smaller to bigger and vice versa).
2. Gezerah shawah: Identical with the second rule of Hillel.
3. Binyan av: Rules deduced from a single passage of Scripture and rules deduced from two passages. This rule is a combination of the third and fourth rules of Hillel.
4. Kelal u-Peraṭ: The general and the particular.
5. u-Peraṭ u-kelal: The particular and the general.
6. Kelal u-Peraṭ u-kelal: The general, the particular, and the general.
7. The general which requires elucidation by the particular, and the particular which requires elucidation by the general.
8. The particular implied in the general and excepted from it for pedagogic purposes elucidates the general as well as the particular.
9. The particular implied in the general and excepted from it on account of the special regulation which corresponds in concept to the general, is thus isolated to decrease rather than to increase the rigidity of its application.
10. The particular implied in the general and excepted from it on account of some other special regulation which does not correspond in concept to the general, is thus isolated either to decrease or to increase the rigidity of its application.
11. The particular implied in the general and excepted from it on account of a new and reversed decision can be referred to the general only in case the passage under consideration makes an explicit reference to it.
12. Deduction from the context.
13. When two Biblical passages contradict each other the contradiction in question must be solved by reference to a third passage. (Wikipedia "Baraita of Rabbi Ishmael)

Eiruvin 13b

(a) (R. Acha bar Chanina): Hash-m knows that there was no one as sharp as R. Meir in his generation. The Halachah was not established like him, because he could bring convincing proofs to be Metaher what is really Tamei or vice-versa, and his colleagues could not discern if he was saying correctly. (Even though a Stam Mishnah is R. Meir, this is when there is no argument. When he argues with R. Yosi or R. Yehudah or perhaps even R. Shimon, the Halachah is unlike R. Meir - 46b.)

(b) (Beraisa): R. Meir's real name was R. Nehurai. He is called R. Meir because he was Me'ir (illuminated) Chachamim's eyes in Halachah;

(c) The real name of [the Tana normally called] R. Nehurai was R. Nechemyah. Some say, it was R. Elazar ben Arach;

1. He is called R. Nehurai because he was Manhir (enlightened) Chachamim's eyes in Halachah.

(d) Rebbi: I am sharper than my colleagues because I saw R. Meir from the back (Rashi - when I learned from him.) Had I seen him from the front, I would be even sharper - "v'Hayu Einecha Ro'os Es Morecha." (Chidushei Ge'onim - he understood the secondary teachings. Had he understood the primary teachings, he would have been even sharper. Rif (Beitzah 20a) brings a Yerushalmi that connotes that he saw R. Meir from the back on one occasion. It was not while learning.)

(e) (R. Avahu): Sumchus was a Talmid of R. Meir. He would give 48 reasons why every Tamei thing is Tamei, and 48 reasons why every Tahor thing is Tahor.

(f) (Beraisa): There was a Talmid Chacham in Yavneh who could give 150 reasons why a Sheretz is Tahor.

(g) (Ravina): I can show that it is Tahor a snake kills people, thereby increasing Tum'ah, yet it is Tahor. A Sheretz does not kill and increase Tum'ah, all the more so it is Tahor!

(h) Rejection: This is not a Kal va'Chomer. Also thorns kill, but this is no reason to say that they are Tamei!

3) THE ARGUMENT OF BEIS HILLEL AND BEIS SHAMAI

(a) (R. Aba): Beis Hillel and Beis Shamai argued for three years. Each said 'the Halachah follows us'.

(b) A Bas Kol announced 'the opinions of both of them are words of Hash-m. The Halachah follows Beis Hillel.' (Medrash brought in Tosfos R. Peretz - for every matter, Hash-m taught Moshe 49 reasons for Heter and 49 for Isur. He said that the Halachah will follow the majority of Chachamim.)

(c) Question: Since both of them are words of Hash-m, why did Beis Hillel merit that the Halachah follows them?

(d) Answer: They were pleasant and patient, and would teach Beis Shamai's opinion as well as their own. Further, they taught Beis Shamai's opinion before their own:

1. (Mishnah - Beis Shamai): If Rosho v'Rubo (his head and the majority of its body) were in a Sukah, and his table was in the house, it (the Sukah) is Pasul;

2. Beis Hillel are Machshir.

3. Beis Hillel: A case occurred in which elders of Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel visited R. Yochanan ben ha'Choranis. Rosho v'Rubo were in the Sukah. His table was in the house, and they did not comment about this!

4. Beis Shamai: No! They told him, if you have always done so, you never fulfilled the Mitzvah!

(e) This teaches that Hash-m raises one who lowers himself, and lowers one who raises himself.

(f) One who makes excessive efforts to attain wealth or grandeur will not attain it;

1. One who does not receive now what he is entitled to, will receive it later.

(g) (Beraisa): Beis Hillel and Beis Shamai argued for two and a half years about whether or not it is better for man that he was created. (Beis Hillel said that it is.) In the end they voted, and decided that it would have better for him had he not been created. (This refers to regular people. It is advantageous for Tzadikim that they were created.)

1. Now that he was created, he should check his deeds [lest he sinned, and must repent];

2. Some say that he should reckon his deeds (decide carefully before doing an action).