Jews Love to Argue: Difference between revisions

** There's also a story of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, a prominent (and ''extremely'' conservative) Roman era rabbi, trying to convince the Sanhedrin that he was in the right about a particular kind of oven being impervious to Levitical uncleanness. Even when overruled, he managed to call on various signs from the natural world (trees, a stream, the beams of the Sanhedrin building) to show he was in the right. Each time, the Sanhedrin ''dismissed the sign'' as the sign-bearer stepping outside of its jurisdiction. Finally, Eliezer beseeched ''God himself'' to step in...which he ''did'', identifying Eliezer as correct about the oven being tamei-proof. Cue the Sanhedrin head ''rebuking God for this'', even quoting Deuteronomy to the effect that the demands of the law put jurisdiction ''only'' among the rabbis; "it is not in the heavens". Let that sink in; the rabbis ''dismissed God for overstepping his legal bounds''. Best part? Immediately afterwards, at the throne of Heaven, God was ''laughing with delight'', saying "My children have defeated me, my children have defeated me!".

** Another story from the [[The Talmud|Talmud]] highlights the degree of affection involved in the process. Rabbi Yohanan's study partner, Resh Lakish, dies, and the other rabbis find him someone new to work with. But where Resh Lakish would argue every point Yohanan made, no matter how obviously correct, the new guy was willing to say "you're right". This did not help Yohanan's mood. According to the Talmud, Yohanan replies that Resh Lakish would pick apart everything Yohanan said, and in answering the rebuttals the discussion would move forward. But this new guy - hah! "But you [the new partner] say 'we learned a teaching that supports you.' Of course I know that I am right!" And on that thought, he goes out to shed some [[Manly Tears]] for his old argument partner..

 

== [[Stand Up Comedy]] ==