Healthy Debate

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Pluralism, Disagreement and Responsibility in Judaism

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A SELECTION OF JEWISH SOURCES

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INTRODUCTION
What does the Jewish tradition teach us about the need for Jews to agree with each other? The following
texts provide us with some guidelines on how, we, the Jewish people, should conduct debates and deal with
our differences of opinion. In many ways, the Talmud is an argument that lasts for a thousand years; an
argument that starts before the rise of Alexander the Great and does not end until after the fall of the Roman
Empire. Virtually every page of the Talmud contains halakhic disagreement. We see in these texts the
importance of plurality of opinion and the need be vocal about our differences when it is in our best, longterm interests. Two Jews, three opinions is not a joke, its a proud and necessary tradition.

QUESTIONS
Some of the questions that should be considered when studying the following texts are:
1. Is there only one way in which we can, or should, interpret Jewish law?
2. Should we embrace differences of opinion amongst Jews or should we seek consensus at all cost?
3. What relationship should we have with those with whom we have serious disagreement?
4. Does it strengthen Judaism, and in turn, the Jewish people, to vocalise our disagreements?
5. In times of crisis, what responsibility do Jews have towards each other?

Pluralism in Judaism
Midrash Bamidbar (Numbers) Rabba 13.15
There are seventy faces of Torah.

Talmud Bavli, Eruvin 13b

For three years there was a dispute between Beit Hillel
and Beit Shammai, the former asserting, The law is in
agreement with our views, and the latter contending,
The law is in agreement with our views. Then a bat kol,
a voice from heaven, announced: These and those are the
words of the living God, but the law is in agreement with
the rulings of Beit Hillel. Since, however, both are the
words of the living God, what was it that entitled Beit
Hillel to have the law fixed according to their rulings?
Because they were kindly and modest, they studied their
own rulings and those of Beit Shammai, and were even so
humble to mention the words of Beit Shammai before
their own.

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Midrash Tehillim (Psalms) 12.4

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Even children living in the
days of Shaul and David and in the days of Shmuel knew
those subtle distinctions of the law which elaborate fortynine arguments by which a thing may be proven clean, and
forty-nine other arguments by which it may be proven
unclean.

Talmud Bavli, Berachot 58a

Our rabbis have taught: A person who sees hosts of
Israelites should say, Blessed be God who discerns
secrets, for the mind of each one is not like the mind of
the other, nor is the countenance of each like the
countenance of the other.

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Disagreement in Judaism
Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 5:17
Any dispute that is for the sake of Heaven is destined to
endure; one that is not for the sake of Heaven is not
destined to endure. Which is a dispute that is for the sake
of Heaven? The disputes between Hillel and Shammai.
Which is a dispute that is not for the sake of Heaven? The
dispute of Korach and all his company.

Talmud Bavli, Yevamot 14b

Although Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel were in
disagreement - what the one forbade, the other permitted nevertheless, Beit Shammai did not refrain from marrying
Beit Hillel, nor did Beit Hillel refrain from marrying those
from Beit Shammai. this should teach that they showed
love and friendship toward one another, thus putting into
practice the injunction, Love you truth, but also peace
(Zechariah 8:19).

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Talmud Bavli, Tamid 28a

We have been taught that Rabbi said: What is the right
way a person should choose for themselves? They should
love rebukes. As long as there are rebukes in the world,
peace of mind comes to the world, good and blessing
come to the world, and evil departs from the world, as it is
said, but to them who are eager to be reproved, there shall
come delight, and the blessing of good shall come upon
them (Mishlei 24:25).

Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 119b

Rabbi Hanina said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because
its inhabitants did not reprove one another, as it is said,
Her princes are become like deers that find no pasture
(Eicha 1:6) Like deers, each of whose head is beside the
tail of the one before it, so did Israel of that generation
keep their faces looking toward the ground and not
reprove one another.

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Responsibility for klal Israel (the community of Israel)

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Talmud Bavli, Shevuot 39a

Is it not written: And they shall stumble one upon
another (Vayikra 26:37)? meaning, one because of the
iniquity of the other; this teaches us that all Israel are
sureties (arevim) one for another.

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Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 54b

Rav, Rabbi Hanina, Rabbi Yonatan, and Rabbi Habiba all
said: Anyone who is able to protest against wrong in his
house and does not do so, is responsible for the
transgressions of their house. If they are able to protest
against the wrong committed in their city and they do not
protest, they are responsible for the transgressions of their
city. If they are able to protest against the wrong
committed in the world and they do not protest, they are
responsible for the transgressions of the world.

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Talmud Bavli, Taanit 11a

It was taught: When the community is in trouble let no one
say, I will go to my house and I will eat and drink and all
will be well with me.

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Midrash Vayikra (Leviticus) Rabba 4:6

When a person sins, will You be wrathful with the whole
community? (Bamidbar 16:22). Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai
taught: This may be compared to the case of men on a
ship, one of whom took a borer and began boring beneath
his own place. His fellow travellers said to him: What
are you doing? Said he to them: What does that matter
to you, am I not boring under my own place? They
replied: Because the water will come up and flood the
ship for us all.

Avot de-Rabbi Natan (Version A) 12:4

Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Elazar said: If you stay at home
and keep quiet how can you pursue peace among the
community of Israel? You should rather leave your home
and travel in the world and actively promote peace among
the community of Israel, as it says: Seek peace and
pursue it (Tehillim 34:14).

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