One of the main sugyot in this page, i have not only learnt many times before but also taught. I learnt it from my teacher and Rabbi, Joel Levy, and for him (and me) this is part of a set of texts that bring forth one of the central tenets of rabbinic Judaism overall and the Talmud in particular.
The discussion between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Elazar is at one and the same time a discussion about how the Shema should be recited, but even more so about the nature of mahloket (disagreement). Rabbi Elazar's position is that since Shammai's opinion includes that of Hillel, then Shammai's position (the more strict) should be the one used when a follower of Hillel and a Shammuti (follower of Shammai) try and pray together. This position I call, "the frummest common denominator". Rabbi Yishmael, could have gone along with Rabbi Elazar's position, but he didn't. He knew that if he did, then over time, Rabbi Elazar's (and Beit Shammai's) position would become THE law. While he may be able to go along with Rabbi Elazar personally, if he didn't stand up for the right to be different now, it would be lost along the way.
Community is important, and it is great when we can pray together, study together, act together, but our unity must never demand uniformity. The freedom to be oneself and to follow one's own truth is a fundamental building block of community and can never be sacrificed for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment