Torah & Judaism For Today's World
Avoth 4:8 TWO MINDS ARE BETTER THAN ONE , EXCEPT FOR THE ONLY ONE
This Mishna offers two lessons only G-D is qualified to sit as a single Judge, Nor should a dissenting judge demand of the other judges on the panel to accept his opinion.
Both concepts seem straight forward enough. Yet, at the same time Rabbi Yishmael’s teachings are counter intuitive. Would Rabbi Yishmael say the same thing if the single judge was an expert, a sage whose knowledge is superior to the other judges? Indeed Rav Ovdiu a Bartenua ZT’L ZY’A understands that this specifically what the Mishna is addressing.
The Talmud (Bava Meziah 59a-b) relates how dramatically Rabbi Eliezer tried to convince Rabbi Yehoshua and company that the Achnichai Oven was indeed pure. Rabbi Eliezer actually elicited a D-vine voice questioning how the others could differ with Rabbi Eliezer as his rulings are routinely accepted as authoritative. To which Rabbi Yehoshua replied citing Rabbi Yirmiya that since the Torah was given at Sinai the Torah was not in the Heavens (see Devarim 30:12). Therefore, following what the Torah says the law is decided according to the majority (see Shemoth 23:2).
This incident puts the Mishna in perspective. Certainly, both Rabbis sought to fulfill G-D’s will. Yet even at the possibility of being wrong in an academic level was quite real that did not dissuade Rabbi Yehoshua because the consensus’ conclusion is what the Torah itself endorses it cannot be contradicted by G-D Himself indeed G-D agreed with Rabbi Yehoshua.
The Talmud’s story cited above, at least in the Talmud Bavli version relates the discussion regarding the status of an object. However, the Mishna discusses judgment in the context of litigation, where persons’ rights, property or status are in play. How more significant is the notion of consensus when people and not things are the matter at bar. Only G-D who created everything is capable of judging singularly. Whereas to adjudicate a dispute a variety of points of view is necessary if not essential to reach a reasoned conclusion.
Judging needs more more than a single Judge even when the individual is judging oneself. Rabbi Menchem Mendel Schneerson, the Late Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT’L ZY’A observed when commenting on the Mishna.
The Mishna offers a profound lesson how to judge people that no one person can knows everything about anyone even oneself.
Both concepts seem straight forward enough. Yet, at the same time Rabbi Yishmael’s teachings are counter intuitive. Would Rabbi Yishmael say the same thing if the single judge was an expert, a sage whose knowledge is superior to the other judges? Indeed Rav Ovdiu a Bartenua ZT’L ZY’A understands that this specifically what the Mishna is addressing.
The Talmud (Bava Meziah 59a-b) relates how dramatically Rabbi Eliezer tried to convince Rabbi Yehoshua and company that the Achnichai Oven was indeed pure. Rabbi Eliezer actually elicited a D-vine voice questioning how the others could differ with Rabbi Eliezer as his rulings are routinely accepted as authoritative. To which Rabbi Yehoshua replied citing Rabbi Yirmiya that since the Torah was given at Sinai the Torah was not in the Heavens (see Devarim 30:12). Therefore, following what the Torah says the law is decided according to the majority (see Shemoth 23:2).
This incident puts the Mishna in perspective. Certainly, both Rabbis sought to fulfill G-D’s will. Yet even at the possibility of being wrong in an academic level was quite real that did not dissuade Rabbi Yehoshua because the consensus’ conclusion is what the Torah itself endorses it cannot be contradicted by G-D Himself indeed G-D agreed with Rabbi Yehoshua.
The Talmud’s story cited above, at least in the Talmud Bavli version relates the discussion regarding the status of an object. However, the Mishna discusses judgment in the context of litigation, where persons’ rights, property or status are in play. How more significant is the notion of consensus when people and not things are the matter at bar. Only G-D who created everything is capable of judging singularly. Whereas to adjudicate a dispute a variety of points of view is necessary if not essential to reach a reasoned conclusion.
Judging needs more more than a single Judge even when the individual is judging oneself. Rabbi Menchem Mendel Schneerson, the Late Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT’L ZY’A observed when commenting on the Mishna.
The Mishna offers a profound lesson how to judge people that no one person can knows everything about anyone even oneself.
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