“RABBI’S
MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shemos
18 Teves 5775/ January 9, 2015
Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt’l related that he
understood the depth of the galus in America
This
year as I was learning the parshios of the dispute between Yosef and his
brothers I remembered that as a child I always took the brother’s side. I
always felt that they somehow were ll.
The truth is that whenever I learned in
class about a dispute recorded in the gemara I took sides. I always sided with
Rava against Abaye, which made me pretty happy, because the law is only like
Abaye six times in all of Talmud. I also always rooted for Bais Hillel over
Bais Shammai, which boded well for me as well. [Anything that worked to keep my
attention in class!]
In Torah there is an integral concept of
‘zeh v’zeh Elokim chaim’ which states that both sides of a Torah-based
argument are correct, and equally represent the Word of G-d. Although on a
practical level Halacha must follow only one opinion, the dissenting view is still
viewed as legitimate and true.
The concept of both sides being correct flies
in the face of the prevailing attitude and mindset of our society. In America
A few years ago a woman sued McDonalds
after she burned herself on the hot coffee she had ordered. Amazingly she won
the case! The American mentality is that someone has to be held accountable –
someone other than me!
One morning some time ago I was eating
breakfast with my fifth grade class. The father of one of my student’s had been
hit by a car, and I asked that student how his father was doing. He replied
that although his father needed rehab, he was doing better. Another boy
overheard something about an accident and called out, “Who had an accident?”
The first boy replied that his father had been hit by a car while walking in a
parking lot. Without missing a beat the other boy asked “Did you sue?” Fifth grade!
We like when things are clear cut – black and
white, good and evil. But the reality is that things are generally not that
way. Life is full of gray areas.
In Torah not always is someone right
and someone wrong. Abaye is no less correct than Rava, despite the fact that
practically the law follows the opinion of Rava.
The righteousness and stalwartness of
Yosef is beyond our comprehension, no less than the righteousness of the
brothers. Both were correct and they remain the leaders of the tribes.
It is a lesson we need to learn well. Not
everyone who disagrees with us is wrong, and even if they are wrong it isn’t
reason to write them off completely.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum