Topics covered:
Chapter 1, Mishna 2 Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel disagree on how to correct an alleyway so carrying is permitted there on Shabbos. A certain student gives his own interpretation of the dispute. Who is this student? The great and BIRLLIANT Rabbi Meir, who studied under both Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael. He was so brilliant, however, that it became a problem! Why? How did this problem change him and the tradition? What did he learn and teach about the ink used to write a Torah scroll? Why was Rabbi Meir called Rabbi Nehorai? Why did his teachings become the accepted rule in a vast quantity of mishnas, yet his name was removed from his teachings? To answer these questions we look at the famous incident of a 3-year dispute between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel that resulted in a miracle – a Heavenly Voice sent by God to proclaim these and these are the words of the Living God, but the law follows Beis Hillel because they are agreeable and forebearing and teach the opnions of their opponents as well as their own, and teach them first! From this we learn the crucial importance of humility in teaching, legislating and advocacy. Finally, we examine whether it would have been better for humankind if we were never created, but seeing that we were created what we should do about it.