We read in the Babylonian Talmud: “For three years the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel debated [a matter of ritual purity]. These said, “The law is according to our position,” and these said, “The law is according to our position.” A divine voice came and said, “These and these are the words of the living God, and the law is according to the House of Hillel.”
But if these and these are both the words of the living God, why was the law set according to the House of Hillel? Because they (the House of Hillel) were gentle and humble and they taught both their own words and the words of the House of Shammai. And not only this, but they taught the words of the House of Shammai before their own. (Talmud Eruvin 13b)
Gentleness, humility, readiness to understand and respect the “other.” How often do we see these words applied to faith leaders and faith communities? Having led congregations in the United States and in Israel, I assure you that there are Muslim, Christian, Druse and Jewish faith leaders who are deeply committed to the Talmudic principle of “these and these …” We are in desperate need of political and religious leaders who aspire to lead with humility and respect for the fundamental humanity of “the other.”
