The Jewish Square

Torah scholars bring peace to the world. How? Don't they fight all the time? A Torah scholar brings peace to the world to the degree that he leaves place for his opponents. This not only brings peace. This is essential to attaining Truth. The Torah was given to sixty myriads of Jews, and is encompassed only by all of Israel. Who does not leave place to his opponent will loose sight of the truth the opponent does have. His end will be heresy.

This is the message of the passage of the heretics Simcha and Sasson in Talmud Bavli, Succah 48b. Simcha and Sasson differ, but the Talmud does not explicitly mention the subject matter of their dispute. That is apparently quite irrelevant. We must understand the heresy of Simcha and Sasson in the light of the discussion the Talmud is reporting. It is a status discussion. I am greater than you, says Sasson to Simcha. No, I am greater than you, says Simcha to Sasson.

In Torah, the greatest is he who learns from everybody. We must consider the other greater, even when disagreeing fiercely. If we don't, we will all be heretics. Who sees his truth rejected, will naturally reject the truth of his rejecter in return. The result is division, leading to heresy, leading to more division, and more heresy. Apply this to the truths of the divided Jewish square: Halacha, Kabbala, Eretz Yisrael, Chochmot HaOlam.

The Truth is One. The truth of Sasson is essential to Simcha, and the truth of Simcha is essential to Sasson. Being unable to submit to a joint understanding, Simcha and Sasson push each other into heresy. As long as division reigns in Israel, not a single corner of the Jewish square is free of heresy. Only in Unity we will find the Truth, together with Peace.

The Torah tells us how to achieve Unity. We must sit together in a Sanhedrin. Then Sasson will say to Simcha: You are greater, as you have truth that I do not have, and Sasson will attain Simcha's truth. Then Simcha will say to Sasson: You are greater, as you have your truth and you have mine.

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