Although there are certain truths and precepts that Jewish tradition considers to be sacred and eternal -- for example, the unity of the One Creator and all creation -- our tradition also cherishes and respects the diversity of thought among human beings. In this spirit, the Talmud teaches: "Just as the faces of people do not exactly resemble one another, so too their opinions do not exactly resemble one another." (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Brochos 58a)
Rabbi Yissocher Frand, a contemporary Torah educator, once shared with his e-mail list the following thought regarding the above rabbinical teaching. He writes: "I once heard an insight into this rabbinical comment in the name of Rav Shlomo Eiger (1786-1852). The meaning of the Talmud's statement is that just as it should not bother me when someone does not look like me, so too, the fact that someone does not think like me should not bother me."
The Hebrew word for face is panim. This word is related to another Hebrew word p'nim, which means "inside" or "inner essence". The human face is called panim because the face expresses the p'nim -- the inner essence of the human being. The reason why human faces are different one from the other is because the inner essence of each human being is different one from the other. The Creator gives each person a unique soul with a unique way of thinking, because each person has a unique purpose on this earth.
Jewish tradition values this diversity and this is one reason why Jews love to debate. Yet, our tradition also stresses that a debate should be conducted with a sincere desire to discover the truth. According to our sages, an example of such sincere debates are the famous debates between Hillel and Shammai, two sages of the Second Temple period. Their debates are therefore described as "a dispute for the sake of Heaven." (Pirkei Avos - Ethics of the Fathers - 5:20)
If, however, the "debate" is a disguise for hidden ego agendas, and if the debate becomes a means of insulting or ridiculing others, then such a debate has no place in Jewish tradition. In fact, to insult or ridicule another person is a form of behavior that causes one to transgress a number of the Torah's mitzvos, including the prohibition, "You shall not aggrieve one another." (Vayikra - Leviticus - 25:17)
According to the Oral Torah -- cited by the classical Bible commentator, Rashi -- this mitzvah teaches us not to hurt each other through words. This mitzvah should help us remember that the purpose of a debate is not to try to show that we are "smarter" than others. The purpose of a debate is to clarify ideas.
During the week, we look forward to the shalom of Shabbos -- the Sacred Seventh Day. The relaxed atmosphere of Shabbos, combined with the gathering of family, friends and guests, gives us additional opportunities to discuss Torah, and a good debate may therefore take place at the Shabbos table. We must be careful, however, to make sure that the debate is conducted in the peaceful spirit of this sacred day.
We must therefore avoid angry words and avoid personal quarrels. We must never insult people, and if during the discussion someone said something in the wrong way, we have to be careful not to overreact in a heated and angry manner. In general, we are to avoid angry words and personal quarrels every day, but we must make an extra effort to do so on Shabbos.
A sage known as the Sh'lah finds a reference to this idea in the following verse: "You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the day of Shabbos." (Shemot - Exodus - 35:3)
The Sh'lah writes that in addition to the plain meaning of the words, this verse also alludes to the "fire" of angry arguments. On Shabbos, we should be especially careful not to grow angry or to engage in personal disputes.(1) On this sacred day of shalom, we are forbidden to kindle the flame of anger, but we are permitted, and even encouraged, to kindle the flame of a good idea!
Related Comments:
1) The comment of the Sh'lah is found in his work Shnei Luchos Habris (part 3), cited in Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. The book Love Your Neighbor discusses those stories, teachings and mitzvos in each weekly Torah portion that help us fulfill the mitzvah to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Vayikra - Leviticus - 19:18). This book contains life-giving insights, which can also be discussed at the Shabbos table.
copyright (c) 2005 by Mr. Yosef Ben Shlomo HaKohen
Rabbi Yissocher Frand, a contemporary Torah educator, once shared with his e-mail list the following thought regarding the above rabbinical teaching. He writes: "I once heard an insight into this rabbinical comment in the name of Rav Shlomo Eiger (1786-1852). The meaning of the Talmud's statement is that just as it should not bother me when someone does not look like me, so too, the fact that someone does not think like me should not bother me."
The Hebrew word for face is panim. This word is related to another Hebrew word p'nim, which means "inside" or "inner essence". The human face is called panim because the face expresses the p'nim -- the inner essence of the human being. The reason why human faces are different one from the other is because the inner essence of each human being is different one from the other. The Creator gives each person a unique soul with a unique way of thinking, because each person has a unique purpose on this earth.
Jewish tradition values this diversity and this is one reason why Jews love to debate. Yet, our tradition also stresses that a debate should be conducted with a sincere desire to discover the truth. According to our sages, an example of such sincere debates are the famous debates between Hillel and Shammai, two sages of the Second Temple period. Their debates are therefore described as "a dispute for the sake of Heaven." (Pirkei Avos - Ethics of the Fathers - 5:20)
If, however, the "debate" is a disguise for hidden ego agendas, and if the debate becomes a means of insulting or ridiculing others, then such a debate has no place in Jewish tradition. In fact, to insult or ridicule another person is a form of behavior that causes one to transgress a number of the Torah's mitzvos, including the prohibition, "You shall not aggrieve one another." (Vayikra - Leviticus - 25:17)
According to the Oral Torah -- cited by the classical Bible commentator, Rashi -- this mitzvah teaches us not to hurt each other through words. This mitzvah should help us remember that the purpose of a debate is not to try to show that we are "smarter" than others. The purpose of a debate is to clarify ideas.
During the week, we look forward to the shalom of Shabbos -- the Sacred Seventh Day. The relaxed atmosphere of Shabbos, combined with the gathering of family, friends and guests, gives us additional opportunities to discuss Torah, and a good debate may therefore take place at the Shabbos table. We must be careful, however, to make sure that the debate is conducted in the peaceful spirit of this sacred day.
We must therefore avoid angry words and avoid personal quarrels. We must never insult people, and if during the discussion someone said something in the wrong way, we have to be careful not to overreact in a heated and angry manner. In general, we are to avoid angry words and personal quarrels every day, but we must make an extra effort to do so on Shabbos.
A sage known as the Sh'lah finds a reference to this idea in the following verse: "You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the day of Shabbos." (Shemot - Exodus - 35:3)
The Sh'lah writes that in addition to the plain meaning of the words, this verse also alludes to the "fire" of angry arguments. On Shabbos, we should be especially careful not to grow angry or to engage in personal disputes.(1) On this sacred day of shalom, we are forbidden to kindle the flame of anger, but we are permitted, and even encouraged, to kindle the flame of a good idea!
Related Comments:
1) The comment of the Sh'lah is found in his work Shnei Luchos Habris (part 3), cited in Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. The book Love Your Neighbor discusses those stories, teachings and mitzvos in each weekly Torah portion that help us fulfill the mitzvah to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Vayikra - Leviticus - 19:18). This book contains life-giving insights, which can also be discussed at the Shabbos table.
copyright (c) 2005 by Mr. Yosef Ben Shlomo HaKohen