Ahead of the Jewish New Year, I wanted to pass along the following legend, as recounted by Abba Eban, notable Hebrew scholar, politician, and diplomat:
“The Rabbis, who often taught by telling stories, expressed their faith in the principles of democracy through a wonderful tale in which two students of Johanan ben Zakkai—Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus and Rabbi Joshua ben Hananiah—are the central characters.
Rabbi Eliezer, the story says, was arguing a point of law, but no matter how many arguments he made, he could not convince the other Rabbis. Finally, in exasperation, he pointed to a tree and said, ‘If I am right, may that tree move 100 yards.’ The tree promptly moved 100 yards, but the Rabbis were unimpressed. ‘What has a tree to do with a point of law?’ Rabbi Eliezer called upon a canal to flow backward as a proof of his position, and, though the water turned about, the Rabbis were not one bit more convinced. ‘May the walls of this House of Study prove my point,’ cried Rabbi Eliezer, and the walls bent inward as if they would fall. Rabbi Joshua stood up and scolded the walls: ‘If the learned argue over a point of law, what has that to do with you?’ So to honor Rabbi Joshua, the walls did not fall—though out of respect to Rabbi Eliezer they did not become quite straight either!
Finally, in desperation, Rabbi Eliezer cried out, ‘If I am right, let the heavens prove it.’ Then a heavenly voice said, ‘What have you against Rabbi Eliezer? His interpretation of the Law is always right.’ Again Rabbi Joshua rose: ‘We pay no attention to a heavenly voice. God gave his Torah to mankind, and decreed that we would interpret it for ourselves. The majority decides.’
And, the legend concludes, God laughed with delight.”
-Abba Eban, My People, Volume I, Berhrman House, Inc., 1978; p.67
Happy 5780! Here’s hoping “The majority decides."