A Tale of Two Hands…

I recently went to a study session wherein we explored the idea of Ellu v’Eilu devrei Elohim Chayim, ‘both these and these are the words of the living God.’  The Talmud reports that this was uttered by a Divine voice when the houses of Hillel and Shammai were arguing (perhaps even in ideological war) with each other two thousand years ago.  The argument was so intense that the Divine self had to get involved in a rare instance when God played referee.  Not of a dispute with an evil king, but in a Jewish/Jewish conflict.

From this there are other teachings that have emerged over time.  The Talmud also goes to great lengths to state that the community will follow the majority opinion, but it also is equally responsible to record the minority opinion of any Talmudic dispute for the minority opinion is not absent wisdom or the conviction of its rabbis.

I often feel like it is the lot of being a Jew to carry multiple opinions and multiple understandings at the same time.  It hearkens to the old saying, ‘on the one hand this, but on the other hand…that.’  Thus the ability to be unified and follow only one message or opinion, while convenient, might be the furthest mindset from being Jewish.  Carrying our notions of what the world/Torah/God wants from us AND holding at the same time what how others understand this differently…this is part of the Jewish inheritance.

And so I hope that as you walk into this liminal time between Spring and Summer, between snow and rain, or as was the case for me recently mowing grass only to see snow fall the next day…I see these as metaphors for being Jewish.  Holding different possibilities and potentials will always be part of our identity…as it has been since the last time God played referee and told us that we need to have at least…two hands.

L’Shalom
Rabbi Jim