Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai

Two important schools emerged in the later generations of teachers of the Law at the end of the Second Temple. These masters were themselves the heirs of ancient schools, which dated back to the prophets. The two great schools were named after their two legendary founders, Hillel the Elder, and Shammai. In their day the two masters accepted that their differences of opinion should be maintained. This is to sharpen the sense of debate among their students, and also to make them prefer questions to answers. Shammai was a very rigorous teacher, and his method consisted in gathering around him disciples as expert and demanding as himself. Approaching him was difficult, as it took a lot of exams to be accepted into his company. Hillel was more flexible and close to the people and he was accessible to everyone. However, he had 80 disciples who themselves became legendary luminaries, who are said to have had enough holiness to perform the same miracles as the prophets of old. When the laws were debated, it was done between the disciples of the two schools, and the majority won. However, although their opinions differed, on subjects as important as Kashrut and marriage, the students of Hillel and Shammai married and ate with each other. It was possible for them to debate vigorously and without limit of thought, and at the same time to maintain an irreproachable respect towards those who had a position opposite to theirs. Eventually, it was the school of Hillel that was followed by the great masters of Judaism and by the people. However, out of respect for the teacher’s school and to deepen the meaning of the question and debate, Shammai’s views have been preserved.In Pirkey-Avot it is said: an honorable debate made in the Name of Heaven will continue. On the other hand, a dishonorable debate which is not made in the Name of Heaven will disappear … What is the example of an honorable debate made in the Name of Heaven? This is the Hillel and Shammai debate ” One day, a person who was not a Jew had a desire to give up idolatry and decided to learn the Law. This person heard about Shammai and Hillel, the two great masters of his time, and went to consult them. He had a question: Tell me the whole Fa on one foot. When the man entered Shammai’s house, he pushed him away with the architect’s staff. That is, Shammai’s answers were too strict and took too much effort of understanding for him. Frustrated, he went to Hillel’s place.
“What you consider hateful: to your neighbor do not do it!” This is the whole Law, the rest is explanatory. Go, study! .. ” Man converts on the spot, and eventually becomes a saint, who himself will teach the Law, and make disciples. Hillel began his journey in the greatest poverty, for he had to sacrifice everything in order to serve and study with his two great masters, who were also the masters of Shammai, and were themselves converts: Shemayah and Abtaliyon.