A Rare Peek Into a Renowned Library’s Vault
The extraordinary works in this exhibition are rarely seen, and this is their first time in America.
17
May
06
Mar
Ask The Rabbis // How do we balance civility with disapproval for others’ politics?
INDEPENDENT
We should learn from our sages. Even though they disagreed vehemently on issues of law and politics more than 2,000 years ago, they would leave the House of Study following each debate holding each other’s hands. And even though some of their disagreements involved the laws around marriage and divorce, they gladly allowed their sons and daughters to marry one another anyway (Talmud Bav’li, Yevamos 13b). “When a scholar issues an opinion, we do not compel him to retract, nor do we reject him…nor do we accuse him of being prideful” (Talmud Bav’li, Chulin 6b-7a). We can also learn from God, with whom we have been in disagreement on and off ever since the first circumcision. In the words of God as filtered through the Talmud: “Even if the Israelites worship idols but there...