One of the characteristics of our era is the blurring of the boundaries between truth and falsehood, between light and darkness, and between good and evil.
In the past, values were based on clear and stable foundations, and therefore humans had a compass by which they could navigate the spiritual and ethical world. Today, they try to base values on changing fashions and occasional theories, and therefore the human ship rocks from side to side, without a solid anchor point.
Within this reality, the concept that every position and every view should be respected was born. On the surface, this is a logical approach. Who determined that you actually have the truth? You think this way, but someone else thinks differently. Into this enter the slogans 'respect the other,' 'respect the different,' and it seems that we have received a new discourse that deserves to be included in the Ten Commandments.
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An unequivocal statement
In fact, here too we see the blurring of boundaries and the confusion of creation. We take concepts that have a kernel of truth in them, but mix gender with non-gender.
Indeed, the Torah commands, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Everyone should be loved and respected. But does this mean that every opinion and viewpoint should be respected?
The same Torah that commands us to "love your neighbor as yourself" clearly states what is good and what is bad, what is permitted and what is forbidden, what is kosher and what is forbidden, what is proper and what is improper. The Lubavitcher Rebbe illustrated this by referring to a Jew who runs a non-kosher butcher shop - we must love the Jew, but we must unequivocally say that the meat he sells is forbidden to eat!
The same blurring of concepts occurs in the flourishing of slogans in the fields of Judaism. The statement "to act according to the method of Beit Hillel" has become code for the abrogation of Torah commandments and the legalization of clear prohibitions. And did the elder Tanna Hillel, who is one of the pillars of the Oral Torah, act in this way? And is it possible to attribute to Beit Hillel any kind of lightening of the yoke that comes to someone's mind?!
Indeed, within the boundaries of halakhic law, there is room for disagreement between Hillel and Shammai. Both are of course committed to the Torah and its rules, and here there is a certain scope in which one can be lenient or strict.
But using the phrase "Beit Hillel" to completely break through the boundaries of the Torah is not only ignorance but also cheap demagogy.
They are all pilots.
Korah raised the banner of equality - "The whole assembly is holy." He was not willing to accept the special status that the Creator had established for Moses and Aaron. His punishment teaches that in the name of equality, one can descend to the lowest hell. There are things about which a clear statement must be made, without being wrapped in slogans of equality and respect that are out of place.
In the name of equality, will we allow every person to fly a plane, sign building plans, and perform surgeries? Will we truly agree to respect every opinion and viewpoint? And if someone develops a systematic theory that justifies theft, will we respect their opinions?
Respect for others also has boundaries, just as in the Jewish people there are boundaries between priests, Levites, and Israelites; between Sabbath and weekday; between mitzvah and transgression. These boundaries are the basis for stable and sustainable values.
