Parshat Korach

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 Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon

 Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

Machloket (Difference of opinion) – Good or bad?

 

The difference of opinion between Korach and his company was certainly a negative one, as one can see in this parasha.

However, from the words of the Mishna in Avot, one can see that the difference of opinion between Hillel and Shammai was “l’shem shamayim” (for the sake of heaven) and positive. Why is this so?

The Gemara in Eruvin describes the scenario of the three-year difference of halachik opinion between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. Ultimately a heavenly voice declared that both were the words of G-d, but the halacha was like Beit Hillel.

The passage explains that it was because Beit Hillel was “accommodating and not arrogant… even though their words were different from Beit Shammai, they put their words before their own.” (Eruvin 13b)

 

On the outset it seems difficult: how can one give up on truth just because they are humble? How is this connected to the ruling of the halcha?

What is the positive side of this argument?

Rav Kook in his Orot HaRaya explained that the more differences of opinion there are, the more the wholeness of the world increases.

This is how he explains the expression: “Torah scholars increase peace in the world” (Pirkei Avot). In other words, they increase the completeness of the world.

One person says something. His colleague says an opposing opinion. They two of them should appreciate not just their own opinions, but that there is an opinion that opposes his own.

There is something here that is almost impossible: to believe in your opinion, clarify it and even fight for it, but at the same time, appreciate that there is an opinion that opposes yours.

One should appreciate this is how we come close to G-d’s source which unifies and connects everything.

 

This is a praiseworthy aspect of a king- that he connects all of the opposites; only through clarifying all of the sides and opposing differences does the kingship of the king become revealed.

See, the gemara is not just satisfied that Beit Hillel is humble. The passage states, “Because they were accommodating and not arrogant…even though their words were different from Beit Shammai,

they put their words before their own.”

The humility of Beit Hillel led them to bring in the words of Beit Shammai and even put their words before their own.

This means that Beit Hillel understood that there was significance to the words of Beit Shamai. This wasn’t just a regular halachic argument, but an essential, crucial difference of opinion.

Beit Hillel understood that one needs to understand and see both approaches in order to get to the halachic ruling. Beit Hillel also realized that they needed to understand the opinion of Beit Shamai in order to come to a ruling.

Therefore, the halacha is in accordance to Beit Hillel. The halacha like Beit Hillel tries to unify the opposing factors, and fight for their opinion, but understands the importance of the opposing opinion.

Only through this way do we arrive at unity in the world, and come to halachic truth.