Archive of Our Own ^beta

A D’Var Torah Dedicated To My Enemy

My people tell a story. It takes place 200 years after the death of one of our teachers who you call the son of God. Because you understand neither the nature of God nor what it means to be a teacher. It is a story from which Jews learn both of the rules we live by how those rules should be agreed upon.
Once upon a time a new kind of oven was invented, coiled like a snake, with sand in between and the whole thing plastered over in cement. The rabbis debate whether or not this technology is susceptible to ritual impurity. Rabbi Eliezer argues that the oven was ritually pure. Rabban Gamaliel, argued that the oven was impure.
When none of Rabbi Eliezer's arguments convince his colleagues, he cries out, "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, this carob tree will prove it." and carob tree jumped from its place and replanted itself on the other side of the yard. Rabbi Gamaliel said “Since when is a carob tree admissible in a halakhic argument?”
Rabbi Eliezer cries out, "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the stream will prove it." The stream begins to flow backwards, but again Rabbi Gamaliel points out that a stream is not how halakha is decided. Rabbi Eliezer cries out, "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the walls of the study hall will prove it." The walls of the study hall begin to fall, but are then scolded by Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah who reprimands the walls for interfering in a debate among scholars. Out of respect for Rabbi Joshua, they do not continue to fall, but out of respect for Rabbi Eliezer, they do not return to their original places. And that is why the walls of that building are crooked to this day.
In frustration, Rabbi Eliezer finally cries out, "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, Heaven will prove it." From Heaven a voice is heard, saying, "Why are you differing with Rabbi Eliezer, as the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every place that he expresses an opinion?" Rabbi Joshua responds, "It [the Torah] is not in heaven" (Deuteronomy 30:12).
This is how you win halakhic arguments! You cite your sources!!!! The Torah says, "It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?' No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe" (Deuteronomy 30:12-14). Upon hearing Rabbi Joshua's response, God smiled and stated, "My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me."
After this incident, the rabbis under Rabban Gamaliel choose to ostracize Rabbi Eliezer from their community. Rabbi Akiva, a student of Rabbi Eliezer, volunteers to bring this news to Rabbi Eliezer. Rabbi Akiva dresses himself in clothes of mourning, and he delicately says to Rabbi Eliezer, "My teacher, it appears to me that your colleagues are distancing themselves from you." Rabbi Eliezer tears his clothes in mourning and begins to cry. It was said that Rabbi Eliezer had the power to destroy the whole world, yet due to the respectful manner in which he was ostracized, only a third of the world's crops were destroyed.
When Rabbi Eliezer was given the news of being ostracized, Rabban Gamaliel was on a boat. A great storm picked up, and Rabban Gamaliel knew that this storm was retribution for the pain caused to Rabbi Eliezer. Rabban Gamaliel proclaims to God, "Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that neither was it for my honor that I acted when ostracizing him, nor was it for the honor of the house of my father that I acted; rather, it was for Your honor, so that disputes will not proliferate in Israel." When he spoke these words, the storm was calmed.
Rabbi Eliezer continued to be in grief over being ostracized from the community. His wife, Ima Shalom (the sister of Rabban Gamaliel), was aware of the power that a prayer said in pain had to be heard. She attempted to interfere with her husband's supplication prayers so that any calls for retribution or bemoaning of his fate would not be heard. Yet one day she was distracted and failed to interfere with Rabbi Eliezer's prayers. At this moment, Rabban Gamaliel died. Rabbi Eliezer asked his wife how she knew that this would happen if he were to pray while in such pain. Ima Shalom explains the sentiment expressed in the discussion preceding the story of the Oven of Akhnai, she says, "This is the tradition that I received from the house of the father of my father: All the gates of Heaven are apt to be locked, except for the gates of prayer for victims of verbal mistreatment."
As with all stories, one can learn many lessons from this tale. Rabbi Eliezer was objectively correct. A voice from heaven confirmed it. But the Torah is not in heaven. God gave it to us. We are adults and leaders. We live in an imperfect world. And even if you have the ear of heaven on your side, it doesn't matter if you are ostracized. Because all people on earth must work with each other. Perfection is for angles in heaven. Cooperation, compromise, and democracy are the way humans on earth survive as a nation.

After a decade of knowing you and watching you beat down and bully assistant teacher after assistant teacher and wondering who would ever be good enough for you, I have finally seen who it is you want to work with. The only coteacher you have not had a issue with. A teenager from your own culture who has been working at the school for three years and is one of the top employees at the school. Someone young enough that she is easy for you to boss around but old enough for you not to have to put any effort into training her. You have the ability to work calmly with a person you have complete power over and literally no one else. You don’t want a coworker. You want a slave.
You told me I have a bad attitude and that I am disrespectful. You told me that I am lazy, that I don’t pull my weight, that I don’t care about your feelings and that no one listens to you. You have also said that you don’t like having to repeat yourself. You expect everyone to follow what you say without question or clarification. You think respect means obedience. You think you know who I am.
I am descended from those who wrested angels and killed giants. I am the product of a society that told heaven to stay out of our politics. Every year on Passover I remember that God himself and no angel took me out from the house of bondage and chose me as a member of his people to receive his commandments.
If you think that I am going to do anything at all simply on your say so and without a compelling reason why, especially after so many years of you making so many teachers cry and quit because you lack the ability to disagree peacefully, you are stupider than you look in your pajama ass plaid pants. I serve no master, only God and I follow no one without question.