Chapter 1
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| HILLEL AND SHAMMAI RECEIVED THE MESORAH (tradition) FROM THEM (Shemaya and Avtalyon). HILLEL SAID: BE OF THE DISCIPLES OF AHARON, LOVING PEACE AND PURSUING PEACE, LOVING THY FELLOW CREATURES, AND DRAWING THEM NEAR TO THE TORAH. |
Hillel and Shammai were the last of the 'zugos', pairs, of leaders of that period. Hillel was the Nassi, the President and Shammai was the Chief of the Court.
It is fitting for Hillel to be remembered for this statement, since he was known for his humility. He came from Babylonia to Israel and brought with him a plethora of Torah knowledge. The Talmud in Meseches Pesachim relates how upon his arrival the inhabitants of the city approached him with a practical question of Halacha, the answer to which eluded them. Passover eve had occurred on Shabbos and they had forgotten to bring the knife to the Temple court in order to slaughter the goat for the Passover offering. What could they do? Hillel then advised them to tie the knife between the horns of the animal and the animal would then carry it into the Sanctuary courtyard. Then they recalled that many years earlier Passover eve had occurred on Shabbos and a similar situation presented itself and that was the precise procedure they followed.
Hillel chastised them by saying... 'It is because you weren't diligent in the study of Torah that you forgot!' The Talmud states another incident where Hillel, too, forgot the Halacha, and attributed it to a retribution from Hashem for chastising his people.
As the President, Hillel was accorded priority over Shammai. Yet because of his humility which was infectious to his students, Hillel, as well as his students constantly deferred to the students of Shammai, quoting their words first before their own.Till the time of Hillel and Shammai the knowledge of Torah was generally universally accepted. Because they lived in the turbulent period of Roman occupation and persecutions, just prior and after the Common Era, the hardships facing Jews interfered with their proficient study of Torah. As a result Torah study on the part of their students became deficient, resulting in wider disagreements among them. The respective yeshivos were known as the Beis Hillel and the Beis Shammai. Both schools produced brilliant scholars, who were the earlier Tanaaim... teachers of the Mishna.
Hillel's humbleness was apropro to his statement of being a disciple of Aahron. Aharon, the brother of Moses, was known for his warmth, love, and pursuit of peace. In the tradition that was passed from generation to generation, Aharon was the great peace-maker. He would, in the case of an open rupture between two people, hasten first to the one, then to the other, saying to each of them... "If you would only know how he with whom you quarreled regrets his harsh words with you!" ...with the result that both their hearts softened, and when the two came face to face, they would greet each other as friends. His kindness led many a man who was about to commit a sin to say to himself... "How shall I be able to life my eyes to Aharon's face!" Thus did Aharon turn many away from iniquity and sin.
The love of peace is a byproduct of inner self development. The rabbis read into the statement of Hillel thus:
Before one can extend himself to bring peace to others, he must have peace within himself. Conditioning, self discipline, training and self mastery are the prerequisites. This is what the Psalmist, Kind David, means when he says... "Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man that delights in life, and loves many days that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalms 34:13-15)
Before seeking peace one must develop the quality of refraining from talking evil, and certainly, from doing evil. But avoidance of evil is not sufficient; doing good, positive acts are necessary. When one had developed those attributes within oneself, then he is ready to reach out to others.
That is why included with this idea in Hillel's statement is the next thought... LOVING THY FELLOW CREATURES.
If one truly loves another, he cannot speak evil about him because he sees him in the kindest manner, reads his deeds with understanding, tolerates his weaknesses and forgives his misdeeds... and above all, approaches him with love and tenderness ...never reproaching with harshness. How can any one not respond with the same warmth and feeling that he is being shown?