1
โTwo Jews, Three Opinions: Reconciling Divine Revelation with
Halachic Debateโ
based on an article by Mrs. Rivka Kahan
Source 1a) Shemot 24:12
ืืืจ ืืืื ืื ืื ืืฉื, -ืื-ืืืื--ืืจืืขืื ืืื ื
ืืืช -ืืืชื ื ืื ืืชืฉื; ืฆืื, ืืืื, ืืืชืืจื ืืื
ื, ืืืืจืชื .ืืฉืจ ืืชืืช
12 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Come up to Me into the mount and be there; and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.'
1b) Rashi
ืื ืฉืฉ ืืืืช - ืืืืจืชื ืืช ืืืช ืืืื ืืืชืืจื ืืืืฆืื ืืฉืจ ืืชืืชื ืชืขืฉืจืช ืืืืจืืช ืื, ืืจืืื ื ืกืขืืื ืคืืจืฉ ืืืืืจื ืืฉืืฉ ืขืฉืจื ืืฆืืช ืืืื
:ืฉืืกื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืฆืืช ืืชืืืืืช ืื
All six hundred and thirteen mitzvot are included within the Aseret Hadibrot, and
Rabbeinu Saadya explained in the Azharot that he established for every one of the
dibrot the mitzvot that are dependent on it.
R. Yehuda Halevi, in Sefer Hakuzari asserts that the revelation at Sinai is a proof for
the Torahโs authenticity; the fact that Matan Torah was experienced by an entire nation
rather than by an individual prophet is a testimony to the historical accuracy of the story.
Thus, the revelation of the Aseret Hadibrot set the stage for and substantiated the more
comprehensive revelation that Moshe experienced in the forty days that he spent on Har
Sinai immediately after the giving of the Aseret Hadibrot. Since all of Bnei Yisrael
experienced the initial stage of revelation and believed in its truth, they also accepted the
truth of the subsequent revelation that Moshe received.
Source 2a: Vayikra Ch. 25
ืื ื)ื( ืืืืืจ ื' ืืึพืืฉื :ืืืืจ ืืืจ ืก
ืืฉืืชื ืจืื ืืืืจืช ืืืื ืื ืชืืื ืืึพืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืื ื ื ืชื ืืื )ื( ืืืจ ืืึพืื ื ืืฉ :'ืืืจืฅ ืฉืืช ืื
2
2b) Rashi
ืืืื ืื ืืืฆืืช ื ืืืจื ืืกืื ื, ืื ืขื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืฆื ืืจ ืกืื ื - ืืืจ ืกืื ืืืกืื ื, ืืฃ ืืืื ืฉืืืื ื ืืืจื ืืืืืชืื ืืคืจืืืชืื ืืืงืืืงืื ืืื ืื
ืืกืื ื, ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืชืืจืช ืืื ืื ื ืืืจื ืืืืืชืืื ืืืงืืืงืืื
What is the relevance of shemittah to Har Sinai? And werenโt all of the mitzvot
said at Sinai?! Rather, just as shemittah was said with its principles and details
at Sinai, so too were all mitzvot said with their details at Sinai. This is how it is
taught in Torat Kohanim
Source 3: Rambam, Introduction to the Mishne Torah
ืืช ืืคืืจืืฉื ื ืืชื ื. ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืชื ื ืื ืชื ื ืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ืืื ืืืฆืืช ืฉื ื
ืคืืจืืฉื. ืชืืจื ืื ืชืืจื ืฉืืืชื. ืืืืฆืื ืื .ืืืืืช ืืืื ืืืชืืจื ืืืืฆืื ืชืืจื ืฉืืขื ืคื ืคื ืืืฆืื. ืืืฆืื ืื ืืื ืื ืงืจืืช ืืฆืื ื ืืขืฉืืช ืืชืืจื ืขื
All of the mitzvot which were given to Moshe at Sinai were given together with
their interpretations, as it says: โAnd I will give you the tablets and the Torah
and the mitzvahโ (Shemot 24:12). โThe Torahโ refers to Torah shebikhtav, โand
the mitzvahโ refers to its interpretation. And He commanded us to fulfill the
Torah in accordance with โthe mitzvah.โ This mitzvah is what is called Torah
she-be-al peh
Q: What obvious issue develops if we say that Moshe was given all of the mitzvoth and halachot at Har Sinai?
Source 4: Tosefta (Hagiga 2:9)
ืื 'ืจ ' ืืืกื ืืชืืื ืื ืืืชื ืืืืืงืช ืืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืืช ืืื ืฉื ืฉืืขืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉืืช ืืฉืืจ ืืชื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืืฉื ืืื ืืขืืืจืืช ืฉืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื ืฉื ื ืืชื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืฉืืฉื ืืืืืช
3ืืืื ืืืื ื ืฆืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืฆื ืืืช ืืื ืฉืืขืืจื ืืื ืฉืืฉื ืืื ืืืจืืฉืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืืืช
ื ืืฆื ืืืช ืืื ืืกืืื ืืขืืจื ืื ืฉืืขื ืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืคืื ืฉืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืขืืจื ืืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืช ืื ืฉืืขื ืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืคืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืื
ืืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืฉืืช ืืืืืช ืืข" ืค ืฉืื ืฉื ืฉืืืืื ืื ืฉืืขื ืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืฉืืขืื ืืืื ืืื ืคืืืช ืืขืฉืจืื ืืฉื ืฉื ื ืฆืจื ืืื ืืื ืืฆืืช ืจืืื ืื ืืฉ ืฉื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืืฉื ืืืฆื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืฆื ืขื ืฉืืื ืฉื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืืฉื ืืื ืืืฉืืื ืืชืืื ืฉื ืฉืืจ ืขื ืชืืื ืฉื ืืื
ืื ืฉืืขื ืืืจื ื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืขืจืืื ืืืฉืืชืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืืจืฉ ืฉืืืจ ืืืืชืจืื ืืืืืจืื ืืืืจื ืืฉื ืืืื ืืืฆื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืขืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืจืื ืืืืืืื
ื ืืืื ืฉืื ืฉืืืฉื ืื ืฆืจืื ืืจืื ืืืืืงืืช ืืืฉืจืื ืืจืืืืช ืืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจืื ืชืืืืื ืฉืื ืื ืขืฉื ืฉืชื ืชืืจืืช
Said R. Jose: Initially there was no controversy in Israel; but there was the court of
seventy in the Hall of Hewn Stone, and the other courts of twenty-three were in the towns of
the land of Israel . . . If one needs a court, he turns to the court in his town; if there is no court
in his town, he goes to a court near his town. If they [the court] heard [a tradition], they told
it to them [i.e., the litigants]; if not, [the initiator of the action] and the most eminent member
of the court go to the court on the Temple Mount. If they heard, they told it to them; and if
not, he and the most eminent of them go to the court on the Rampart. If they heard, they told
it to them; and if not, these and others go to the court in the Hall of the Hewn Stone. . . If they
heard, they told it to them; and if not, they stand up for a vote. If the majority is for
impurity, they declare it impure; if the majority is for purity, they declare it pure.
From there the law originates and is disseminated in Israel. When there multiplied
the students of Shammai and Hillel who did not serve their teachers sufficiently,
controversies multiplied in Israel and the law because like two sets of law.
Source 5: Rav Saadia Gaon, Introduction to Emunot VโDeot
ืืฉืจืื ืชืืืืื ืขื ืืื ื ืืืืื, ืืืืจื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืืืืื ื ืืื )ืกื ื' ืค"ื( ืืืืชืืฉืื ืฉืืฉื ืื ืฆืืจืื ืจืื ืืืืืืง ืฉืืื ืืืื
ืืืืืงืืช ืืื ืืฉืื ืืฉืืืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืชืืื ืื ืืื 'ืื ืืชืืืืื ืขืจืืื
The sages of Israel said about one who is not complete in wisdom that from
the time that the students of Hillel and Shammai increased, and did not
sufficiently serve their masters, disagreements multiplied. We learn from this
that if the students had fully mastered their studies, there would have been no
controversies or arguments among them.
4
Source 6: Talmud Eruvin 13b
ืืืื ,ืฉื ืื ื ืืืงื ืืืช ืฉืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืืื: ืฉืืฉืืืจ ืจืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืชื ื. ืืฆืื ืืช ืงืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืชื ื ืืืืื
..ืื, ืืืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืืืจื: ืืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืืื
R. Abba stated in the name of Shmuel: For three years there was a dispute
between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, the former asserting that โthe law is in
agreement with our views,โ and the latter contending that โthe law is in
agreement with our views.โ A bat kol came forth, announcing, โBoth are the
words of the living God, but the law is in agreement with the rulings of Beit
Hillel โ
Source 7: Yerushalmi Hagiga 1:8
ืืืจ ืืืฉื ืืกืื ืืืืจ ื ืืคืืื ืื ืฉืชืืืื ืืชืืง ืขืชืื ืืืืจืืช ืืคื ื ืจืื
Even that which a seasoned student will declare before his teacher was
already said to Moshe at Sinai.
Source 8: Ritvah on Eruvin 13b
ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืจืื ื ืฆืจืคืช ื"ื ืืืื ืืคืฉืจืขื ืืฉื ืืืจืื ืืงืื ืชืืจื ืืจืื ืื ืืืกืจ ืืื ืืชืืจ, ืืชืืจืฆื ืื ืืฉืขืื
ืขื ืื, ืื"ื ืคื ืื ืืืืชืจ, ืืฉืื ืืืงื"ื ืื ืืืจ ืืืืจ ื"ื ืคื ืื ืืืืกืืจืืืจืขื ืืืืชื, ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืื ืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืืกืืจ ืืืืื
.ืืืืจ ืืืจืฉ ืืืืจื ืืืืช ืืฉ ืืขื ืืกืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืคื
The French Rabbis asked: How is it possible that these and those should be as
living words of God, when one permits and the other prohibits? They
answered that when Moshe ascended to heaven in order to receive the Torah,
he was shown, with respect to each and every matter, forty-nine facets for
prohibition and forty-nine facets for license. He asked Hakadosh Barukh Hu
about this and he was told that the matter would be handed over to the sages
5 of Israel in each and every generation, and it would be resolved as they would
determine. This is correct according to the derash speculation, but at the
mystical plane, there is an arcane explanation.
Source 9: Shemot Rabbah 41:6
ืื( ืืจืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืื ืืฉื ืืชืื ืืชืืจื )ืืืื ืืงื"ื ืืืฉื ืืืืจืืขืื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืื ื ืื
Did Moshe learn the whole Torah? It is written โIt is longer than the
land and wider than the seaโ (Iyov 11) and Moshe learned it in forty
days?! Rather, Hakadosh Baruch taught Moshe general principles.
Rambam, introduction to his commentary on the Mishna:
Source 10: RAMBAM โ INTRODUCTION TO PERUSH HAMISHNAYOT
a) Halachot passed down by Moshe, with a hint either in the text or
as indicated by svara/logic
ืืฉืื ืฉ ืื ืืขืืื ืขื ืกืืื. ืืืื, ืฉืืคืืจืืฉืื ืืืงืืืืื ืืคื ืืฉื, ืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืืืืื ืขืืงืจ ืืืขื ืขืชื ืื ืืฆืื ื ืืืืืงืช ื ืคืื ืืืื ืื ืืืื ืื, ืืืืืช ืืฉื ืืขื ืจื ืืฉื ืฉืืจื ืืื, ืคื ืื
ืืื ืืืืืื, ืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืืื, ืืืืฆืื ืขืื ืืืจื ืืืฆืืื ืืช ืขืื ื, ืฉื ืืืจ ืขืื ืืขืื, ืืืืืจ ืืฉื ื, . ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืืชืช ืืื ื ืืื ืืืคืจ
ืืื ืืฆืื ื ื"ื ืืืืืงืช ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืชืื )ืืืงืจื ืื(, ืคืจื ืขืฅ ืืืจ, ืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืื
. ืืชืจืื, ืืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืฉืื, ืื ืจืืืื ืื, ืื ืืืืชื
. ืืื ืืฆืื ื ื"ื ืืืืืงืช ืืขืฅ ืขืืืช, ืฉืืื ืืืก
. ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืืฆืื ื ืืืืืงืช ืืืืจื ืืืชืื )ืืืจืื ืื(, ืืงืฆืืชื ืืช ืืคื, ืฉืืื ืืืคืจืืืชืื )ืืืงืจื ืื(, ืืืช ืืืฉ ืืื ืื ืชืื ืืื ืืช ืืื' ืืืฉ ืชืืฉืจืฃ, ืฉืื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืื ื ืืืืืจ ืืืชื
. ืืื ืื ืชืืื ืืฉืช ืืืฉ, ืขื"ืค
ืืกืงืืื, ืื ืฉืืขื ื ืืืืง ืื, ืืื ืืืืจืช ืืืชืื )ืืืจืื ืื(, ืื ืขืจื ืืฉืจ ืื ื ืืฆืื ืื ืืชืืืื ืฉ, ืืืขืืื ืขืืื ืขืืื ืืืฉื ืืขื ืขืชื, ืขื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืชื ืืฉืช ืืืฉ
. ืฉืืืจ ืืงืืืืฉืื ืืื ืชื ืืขืืื ืืืชืจืื
ืืืืืฆื ืืื ืืืื ืืืฆืืช ืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืื. ืฉืืืื ืคืืจืืฉืื ืืงืืืืื ืืคื ืืฉื. ืืขืืืื ืืขื .ืคืจืืืชืื ืืืงืืืงืื ืืกืื ืืืืืืื ืืืจื, ืื ืืชืืจื ื ืืืจื ืืืืืชืื ื
6
ืืื ืืื ืืข"ืค ืฉืื ืืงืืืืื ืืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืื ืืืืืช ืืชืืจื ืื ืชืื ื ืื ื, ื ืืื ืืืืฆืื ืืื ืืืืืกืืืชืืช ืืืจืืืืช ืืืจืืืื ืืืฆืืืื ืืืงืจื. ืืืฉืชืจืื ืืคืืจืืฉืื ืืืจื ืืืจืื ืืกืืจืืช
ืืืื ืืืขืจืืช ืืขืืื, ืืืืืืื ืจืืืืช ืขื ืืื ืืืชื ืืชืืืื ืืขืืื ืื ืืืืืงืื ืื ืขื ืื . ืืคืืจืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืื
ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืจื ืืืืืจ ืืืชืื ืคืจื ืขืฅ ืืืจ, ืืืื ืืืื ืจืืืื ืื, ืื ืืืืฉืื, ืื ืืืืชื, ืขื
, ืืืืจื: ืขืฅ ืฉืืขื ืขืฆื ืืคืจืื ืฉืืื, ืืืืจ ืืืจ, ืคืจื ืฉืืืืื ืจืืื ืขืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืคืจื ืขืฅ ืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืคื ื ืฉื ืฉืชืืฉ ืืื ืืจืืืืช ืืืจ ืืืืื ื ืืฉื ื ืืฉื ื, ืืืืจ ืืืจ, ืคืจื ืืืจ ืขื ืื ืืื.
ืขืืืื ืืขื ืืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืข ืืื ืืืจืืืืช ืืืื. ืืื ืจืืื ื ืืื ืกืคืง ืืืืืฉืข ืขื ืขืชื, ืฉืืืชืจืื ืืื ืืงืจื ืขื ืืจืื ืื ืืฆื ืืืชืื ืืื . ืืื ืืืงืืื ืขื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉื ื, ืืืื ืื ืืืืืงืช
.ืืคืืจืืฉ ืืืงืืื
ืืื ืืื ืจืืืืชื ืขื ืืืืก, ืืจืืืืชื ืขื ืืื ื ืืืจืื ืืขืื ืฉ ืืืื, ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืื ืฉืืฉืืืช ืืืจ ืืืืจื ืืืจื. ืืจืืืืชื ืื ืื ืขื ืืช ืืืฉ ืืื, ืื ืืืจืช ืืฉื, ืฉืืื ืืฉืช ืืืฉ, ืืื ืืืืื ืื,
. ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืขื ืืขืืงืจ ืืื
ืืืืฆืืื ืืืื ืืคืจื ืืืฉืืจ ืืื ืขื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืจื, ืืืืืชืื ืืคืจืืืชืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืขื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืืื ื ืืืจ ืืื ื"ื ืืืืืช, ืืื ืืงืืืืื ืืคื ืืฉื ืืกืื ื, ืืืืื ืืข"ืค ืฉืื ืืงืืืืื ืืคื ืืฉื,
, ืฉืืื ืืืืจ ืคืจื ืขืฅ ืืืจ, ืืื ืืชืจืื, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื, ืื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื, ืืืฉ ืืื ืฉืืืฉืื ืืืื, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื, ืฉืืืจ ื ืชืืจืจ ืื ื, ืฉืืื ืืคืืจืืฉืื ืืืื ืืคื ื
. ืจืืืื ืืืงืจื, ืื ืืืฆืืื ืืืชื ืืืจื ืืืจืื ืืกืืจื, ืืื ืฉืืืจื ื
b) Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai โ no scriptural or logical basis
ืืขื ืื ืื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืจืื ืืืงืจื, ืืืื ื ื ืงืฉืจ ืื, ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืืืฆืืื ืืืจื ืืืจืื ืืกืืจื, .ืขืืื ืืืื ื ืืืจ, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื
- ืฉืืขืืจืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ืืืืฉืืื ืื ืืฉืืืจื ื,
ืืืืจื, ืืคื ื ืื ืืชื ืืืืจืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื, ืืื ื ืฉืืขืืจืื ื ืจืื ืขืืืื ืงืฉื ืขืืื ืื . ืืื ืืฉืขืืจื )ืืืจืื ื( ืืคืกืืง, ืืืืืจื, ืืจืฅ
ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื, ืืืื ืืฉืืขืืจืื ืขืืงืจ ืืืืฆืื ืืืชื ืืื ื ืืืจื ืกืืจื, , ืชืืื ืืชืฉืืืืืชืืจื, ืืื ื ืกืืื ืืืช ืืืฆืืื ืืื ืืคืกืืง, ืืกืืื, ืืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืข ืื ืืืจ, ืืืื ืืื ืจืื ืืื
. ืืืื ื ืืขื ืืื ืืืชืื. ืืื ืขื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืจื, ืงืจื ืืกืืืชื ืืขืืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืฉืืืืจืืื
ืืืชืืืจ ืื . ืืืคืฉืจ ืฉืืืื ืืื, ืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื ืจืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืืฉืืื ืืื ืืคืืื ืืืช ืฉืืืฆืืืื ืืืจื ืกืืจื, ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืกืืื ืืืชื , ืืืืชืช ืื ืฉืืืจืชื
ืืคืกืืง ืืื ืขื ืืจื ืืกืืืชื, ืืื ืฉืืืจื ื. ืืื ืืฆืื ื ืืขืืื ืฉืืงืจื ืืื ืกืืจืืช, ืื ืืืืื : ืขืืืื ืจืืืืช, ืืื ืืงืืื ืืคื ืืฉื, ืืื ืฉืฆืืื ืืืชื ืืงื"ื
. .ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืคื ืขืงืืื, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื
.ืชืคืืืื ืขื ืงืืฃ, ืืืืืื ืขื ืืืืกืืกืืืก, ืืกืคืจ ืชืืจื ืขื ืืืืื, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ืืืชืคืืืื, ืฉื"ื ืฉื ืชืคืืืื, ืืงืฉืจ ืฉื ืชืคืืืื, ืืจืฆืืขืืช ืฉืืืจืืช, ืืชืคืืืื ืืจืืืขืืช, ืืืขืืจืชื
7 .ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ื
., ืืืกืืจืื, ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืกืื ืืืืชืืื ืก"ืช ืืืื
According to Rambam, no mahloket exists with regard to any halakha that falls within the first two categories. For example, it has always been universally accepted that the term โperi etz hadarโ refers to an trog; this, according to Rambam, is an example of a halakha that falls
within the first category.
c) Halachot derived from application of logic and exegetical principle
ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืฆืืื ืขื ืืจืื ืืกืืจื ืื ืคืื ืื ืืืืืงืช, ืืื ืฉืืืจื ื, ืื ืคืกืง ืืืื ืืื ืขื ืคื ืืจืื. . ืืื ืืงืจื ืืฉืืฉืชื ื ืืขืืื, ืืืคื ื ืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืื ื ืงืื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉ ืชืฉืืื
ืฉืื ืืืงืจืื ืขื ืืื ื ืคืื ืืืืืืงืช ืืืขืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืื ื ืฉืืข ืื ืืืื, ืืชืืฆื ืืื ืืชืืืื
ืืืืืจืื ืืืื ืงื ืืืคืืื, ืื ืืื ืืขืื ืืขื ืืกืืจื ืฉืืื ืืืจื ืืืืืืงืช ืืื ืืืืืงืื, ืืจืื ืคืืื ื, ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืชื ืขื ืขื ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืืงืืืืช. ืืืืืจืื ืืืขื ืืืืจื
. ืืืืื ืืืืืืืืงืช, ืืืื ืฉืืืืจื ืจืื ืคืืื ื ืืืืืง ืืขื ื ืคืืื ืืช, ืืคืืื ื ืืืืืง ืืขื ื ืคืืื ืืช ื
ืืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืืืจืื ืืงืืืืืืื ืื ืฉืืืฉืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืงืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืงืืืืื ืืคื ืืฉื, ืืืืฉืืื ืฉื ืคืื ืืืืืืงืช ืืืจื ืืขืืช ืืืืืืช, ืื ืืฉืืื, ืื ืืคื ื ืฉืืื ืืื ืงืืื ืงืืืช ืืืช ืืืฉื ื ืืขื ืืงืืืชื, ืื
ืื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืฉืจืื ืชืืืืื ืืืืื ืจืืื ืขืืฉืื, ืื ืื ืฉืืข ืืคื ืจืื ืื ืื ืฉืฆืจืื ืืฉืืืข, ืื ืืืืจ - ืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืฉืืฉื ืื ืฆืจืื ืจืืชื ืืืืืงืช ืืืฉืจืื ืื ืขืฉืืช ืชืืจื ืืฉืชื ืชืืจืืช
ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืื ืขืืงืจืื, ืืคืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืจ ื ืชืงืืื ืืื ,ืืืื ื ืืืื . ืืืฆืืช, ืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืืื
ืืืขืื ืืกืชืืืืชื ืืืืจื ืืืืืื ืื ืืฆืืื ืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืืช ืื ืคืกืืช, ืืื*
ืืชืืืื. ืฉืื ืืฆืื ืฉืื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืืืงืืื ืืคื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืช, ืืื ื ืชื ื ืืคืจืฉ ืืื ืืขืืงืจืื . ืืืงืืืืื ืืืื ืชืืืืืช ืืขื ืืื ืื, ืฉืืืฆืืื ืืืชื ืืขืืื
ืืื ืืชื ืื ืืื ืก ืืืื ืกืคืง, ืฉืืืืืงืช ืืืช ืฉืืื ืืืืช ืืื, ืืืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืืืจ
ื ืืืืื, ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืืื ืืช ืืืืช, ืืชืืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืฉื ื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืื ื ืืืืืืื ื ืืงืืื ืืคื ืืฉื ืืกืื ื. ืืื ืืืขื ืฉืืื ืืืจื ืืืืืช ืืืืงืื, ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืชืืืื )ืฉื
ื ื,ื(, ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืกืจ ืืืฉืชืืฉ ืืขื ืืืจืฅ ืืืฉื ื ืืชืืจ. ืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืื ืืืืืืงืืช . ืฉืื ืขื ืคื ืืขื ืคืื
The source of the mahloket between the students of Shammai and Hillel
8ืืื ืื ืฉืืืจื, ืืฉืจืื ืชืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืฉืืฉื ืื ืฆืจืื ืจืืชื ืืืืืงืช ืืืฉืจืื,
ืขื ืืื ืื ืืืืืจ, ืฉืื ืฉื ื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืืชื ืฉืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืขืืื, ืืืืืืขืช ืืขืงืจืื ืฉืืืฆืืื ืืื ืขืืื. ืืื ืฉืื ืืกืืจืืช, ืื ืชืืคืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืกืืจืชื ืืฉืื ืคื ืื, ืืื ื ืคืื ืชืืื ื
ืืื ืืคื ื ืฉืืขืืช ืฉื ืืื ืืื ืงืจืืืืช ืื ืืื ืืื . ื ืืฆื ืฉื ืืืงื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืช ืืืืืืชืืื ืืืฉืจ . ืื ืฉืืืฆืืื ืืืจื ืกืืจื. ืืืขืืงืจืื ืืื ืื, ืื ืชืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืงืจืื ืื ืชืื ืื ืืื
ืจืคืชื ืฉืงืืืช ืืชืืืืืื ืขื ืืืืื, ืื ืืืฉื ืกืืจืชื ื ืื ืกืืจืช ืืื ืืฉืืื, ืืื ื ืคืื ืืืืงืช ืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืขื ืืืจืื ืจืืื, ืฉืกืืจืช ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืชื ืืคื ืฉืืื, ืืื ืฉืืฉ ื
. ืืืื ืื ืืขืืงืจืื
He dismisses the Geonic view that human forgetfulness resulted in mahlokot about halakhot
that were transmitted by Moshe, since he thinks this view impugns the hakhamim in each
generation who were charged with transmitting the mesorah.
ืืืื ืืืืฉืืื ืืื ืืืช. ืฉืื ื ืืจืื ืื ืื ื ืืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืชืืืืืื ืืขืืื ืืืชืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืืฉืข ืืคื ืืก. ืืืื ืื ื ืกืคืง ืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืงื ืื, ืืืจื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืขืื
ืืื, ืฉืืงื"ื ืื ืฆืืื ื ืืขืืืืชื ืขื ืขื ืืื ืื. ืืื ืฆืืืื ื ืืฉืืืข ืืืืื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืื ืืคื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืฉ
. . ืืขื ืืืจืืื ืืืื ื ืคืื ืืืืืืงืช, ืื ืืคื ื ืฉืืขื ืืืืืืช, ืืฉืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืช ืืืฉื ื ืฉืงืจ
.ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืขื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืกืชืื ืื. ืืื ืืงืจ ืืืืื ืื ืืขืืงืจ ืืืฆืืช
d) Gezeirot/Decrees
ืืชืืจื. ืืขืืืื ืฆืืื ืืขืฉืืชื ืกืืืืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉืชืงื ื ืื ืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืืืจ, ืืื ืืงื"ื ืืขืฉืืชื. ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืืืื )ืืืงืจื ืื(, ืืฉืืจืชื ืืช ืืฉืืจืชื, ืืืื ืื
. ืืืืืืื ืืงืจืื ืืืชื ืืืจืืช. ืืงืืื )ืืืืืช ืื.(, ืขืฉื ืืฉืืจืช ืืืฉืืจืชื
. ืืืคืขืืื ืชืืคืื ืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืคื ื ืืืื, ืฉืืื ืืืกืจ ืื ืืคื ื ืื, ืืื ืืกืืื ืขืืื ืืื ืืืจ . ืืืื, ืฉืืืืจืื ืจืื ืคืืื ื ืืืจ ืื, ืืฉืื ืื ืืื, ืืจืื ืคืืื ื ืื ืืืจืืื ืืจืื ืืช
ืืื ืืื ืื ืกืืื ืืกืืืืช ืืืืืืงืช. ืฉืืจื ืืฉืจ ืขืืฃ ืืืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืจืื ื, ืืื ืืืจืืืง ืื
ืืขืืืจื, ืืื ื ืืกืจ ืืชืืจื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืกืจื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืขืืฃ, ืืื ืืืจืืืง ืื . ืืืืกืืจ
ืืืจื ืื, ืฉืจืื ืืืกื ืืื ืืชืืจ ืืฉืจ ืขืืฃ ืืืื, ืืื ืื ืฉื ืขืืจื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืฉ ืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืืจ . ืืืชื, ืืื ืฉื ืชืคืจืกื ืืชืืืื
ืืืฉืืืื ืคืฉืื ืืืกืืจื ืืื . ืืืฉืชืืคืื ืืกืืื ืขื ืืืช ืื ืืืืจืืช, ืืื ืืืืง ืขืืื ืืฉืื ืคื ืื
ืื ืืืืจื ืืืื. ืืคืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืขืฆืื ืื ืืื ืจืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืชื. ื ืืฉืจืื, ืืื ืืืืืง ืขืืืืจื ืืชืืืื, ืฉืืืืื ื"ื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจ ืืืจืื ืฉืืืจื ืืืช ืฉืืื ืืืืช
. ืืื. ืืืืืื ืืขื ืขื ืื, ืืคื ืฉืืืกืืจื ืคืฉื ืืื ืืฉืจืื
9
e) Enactments and Customs
ืื ืืืื ืื ืืขืฉืืืื ืขื ืืจื ืืงืืจื ืืืืกืืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืืื, ืฉืืื ืื ืชืืกืคืช
ืืงืจืื ืืืชื ืชืงื ืืช . ืืืฆืืื ืืื ืืืจืขืื, ืื ืืืืจืื ืฉืื ืชืืขืืช ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืจื ืชืืจื
ืืืกืืจ ืืขืืืจ ืขืืืื. ืืืืจ ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืข"ื ืขื ืืขืืืจ ืขืืืื )ืงืืืช ื(, ืืคืืจืฅ ืืืจ ืืฉืื ื . ืืื ืืืื
. ื ืืฉ
Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, in his article Torat Hesed and Torat Emet,
There is a Torah, firm and sharp, its outlines single-mindedly defined, hewn from the rock of
truth and limned in granite, its message emblazoned as meridian sun and lucid as polar night.
And there is a Torah, flexible and subtle, its frontiers boundless and shifting, supple as an
infantโs flesh and luxuriant as an equatorial forest. Torat emet bespeaks unitary truth. It
denotes a definitive and static entity, an impenetrable and impregnable fortress,
impervious to the vicissitudes of time and culture, ante-historical and meta-historical. It is,
in the words of the midrash, identified with that which a person has received from his
masters . . . Hesed, on the other hand, suggests dynamic centrifugal thrust. The term is
associated with expansive hitpashtut, even excess . . . Torat hesed is therefore marked
by vitality and growth, by the opening of new chapters and the breaking of fresh
ground. Perhaps we can apply the images of Torat hesed and Torat emet to the views of
revelation that we have seen. Revelation can be understood as the transmission of a
monolithic, fully formulated truth, and it can also be understood as enabling and
inviting human creativity in the halakhic process. Through the process of Talmud Torah,
we receive the mesorah of previous generations at the same time that we forge new links in
the chain of mesorah. In internalizing the eternal, unchanging truth of the Torah, we also
recognize its vibrancy and the contributions of individual creativity in each generation. In
commemorating the giving of the Aseret Hadibrot on Shavuot, we reenact the moment
of the original revelation, while simultaneously delving into Talmud Torah and
seeking revelation in our own days.
10
Addendum Keli Yakar on Devarim Ch. 17
ืคืืจืฉ ืจืฉ"ื ืืคืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืขื ืืืื )ืื( ืื ืชืกืืจ ืื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืืื.
ืืจ ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืื'. ื ืจืื ืฉืืงืืง ืื ืืืื ืงืืืจ ืื ืชืกืืืืงืืืจ ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืืืื ืื, ืฉืืข ืืื ื ืฉืืื ืงืืืจ ืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืคื ืืืืช ืืื ื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืช ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืื, ืืืืขื ืืืจ ืื ื ืชืงืฉื
ืืืคืจืฉืื ืื ืชื ื ืืขืืื ืจืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืื ืืื:ืืืจื ืื"ื )ืืืืื ื ื( ืฉืื ืืืืจ ืืืคื ืืืืช ืืื ืื ื ืจืืื ืฉืื ืงืืฉื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืจ
ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืื ืืืกืจืื ืืืืื ืืชืืจืื ืืืื ืื ื ืืื , ืืงืฉื ืชืืจื ืืขืชื ืชืืืื ืืืืจ ื ืืชื ื ืืจืืขื ืืื )ืงืืืช ืื ืื( ืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืชื ื ืืื'
ืืื ืืืจื ืงืืฉืื ืืืืืชื ืืกืืฃ ืกืืฃ ืืืื ืื ื ืืื ืชืืจื, ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืจื ืืฉ ืืื ืคื ืื ืืืืจื, ืืืื ืคื ืื ืืืืื, ืืื ืืชืืจื ืืืจืชื ืืื ืืคื ื ืฉืืฆืืืื ืืืจืืื ืคื ื ืืืจื ืื ืืจืืืื ืืืชืจ ืื ืืคื ืื ืืืจืืื ืคื ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืคื, ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืชืจ ืืืกืืจ, ืืืฉืจ ืืคืกืื, ืืืืขื ืื ืืืจื ืื"ื )ืกื ืืืจืื ืื ื(
, ืืืขืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืฉืื ืืคืขืืื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจืฅ ืื ืืชืืจืืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืกื ืืืจืื ืขื ืฉืืืืข ืฆืจืืืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉืขื ืืคืกืืง ื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืฉืื ืขืช ืืขืฉืืช ืื' ืืคืจื ืชืืจืชื )ืชืืืื ืงืื ืงืื(, ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืฆืจืฃ ืืกืืจืช ืขืช ืืขืฉืืช ืื' ืืืชื ืืืขืื ืกืืจืืช ืฉืืืจ
ืื ืืืื ืื ื ืืื ืืืืช ืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืจ ืืืืขืื ืืืืจืืช ืืืืื ืืืจ ืืืจืื, ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืข ืฉืื ืกืืจื ืื ืืืืคื ืื ืืขืืื ืื ืืืืจื ืืคืืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉืขื ืืืจื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืขื ืกืืื ืขืช ืืขืฉืืช ืื' ืืืืขืื ืกืืจืืช ืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืคื ืืืชืจืข ืจืืื ืืื ืืื, ืืื ืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืื ืคืืกืงืื ืืืืจ ืขื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืืืื ืฉืืฉ
ืฉื ืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืื ืฉืืกืืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืขืื ืกืืจืืช ืกืืจืืช ืื ืืืืจื ืกืืื ืจืืืืฉืืฉ ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืืชืจืข ืจืืื ืฉื ืืืืื, ืื ื ืชื ื' ืื ืื ืืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืื
. ืืขื ืื ืืคื ืืืจื ืื"ื ืืขืฉืืช ืกืืจืืช ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืชืจืื ืืกืืจืืช ืื ืืืื ืืฆื ืืืจืืจื ืืืืืืื, ืื ืืคื )ืืืืื ื ื( ืขืฉื ืืืื ื ืืืคืจืืกืช ืืงื ื ืื ืืฉืืืข ืืืจื ืืืืืจืื ืืื
ืืืืช ืื ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืื ืืกืืจืืช ืื ืื ืืคืฉืจ ืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืกื ืืืจืื ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืกืืจืืช, ืืืืขื ืื ืจืืื ืืงืื ืืื ืืคืืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืขื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืฆื
ืืืชื ืกืืจืืช ืื ืืืื ืื ืืฆื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืจื ื ืืื ืืื:ืืืื ืื ืื ืื ืฉืขืื ืื ืจืืืืช ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืืืจ ืฉืืืจื ืื ืขื ืืืื ืื, ืฉืืื ื
ื ืื ื( ืืขืืื ืืืืจ ืืฉืคื ืืืื ืงืื ืขื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืขืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื -)ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืื ืืคื ืจืืืช ืขืื ื ืืืืื, ืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืขืฆืื ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืขื ืคื ืืืื ืืขืชื ืืื
ืฉืืืฉืชื, ืฉื ืืืจ )ืืืจืื ื ืื( ืืืช ืืืฉืคื ืฉืืื ืฉืคืื ืืฉืขืจืืื. ืืืืจ ืฉืคืื ืขื ืืืฉืขืจืืื, ืืฉืื ืฉืืขืืจ ืื ืฉืืืฉืชื ืฆืจืืืื ืืฉืขืจื ืฉืืืืช ืืืืื ืืืขืช ืืคื ืืืื ืืืืงืื ืืืขื ืื, ืื ืืคืขืืื ืฆืจืื ืืฉื ืืช ืืืืช ืืคื ื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืฆื, ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืฆืื ืืื ืืงืื ืื ืื ืืก ืืจืฉืขืื ืจืข ืืื ืืจืข ืืขืืื )ืกื ืืืจืื ืขื ื(, ืืื ืืืฉืคื ืฆืจืื ืฉืืขืืจ
ืฉื ืชืืืจ: ืืืืื ืืืขืช ืืืจื