The Inner Struggle: Hillel and Shammai's Battle for Jewish Tradition

In those days, when the earthly kingdom of Israel was in turmoil, Herod sat on the throne, and governance followed Roman customs. It was during this time that the sages of Israel, the sacred *Tannaim*, constructed a kingdom of Torah, distinct from the state.

Throughout the Hasmonean kingdom, a struggle ensued over spiritual leadership: would the High Priest align with the Pharisees or the Sadducees? At times, Israel's sages influenced political decisions and envisioned a nation of priests, a sacred people. However, once Herod rose to power, the governance fell into foreign hands, with no hope of choosing the righteous path.

After Herod executed most of the Sanhedrin, he demanded allegiance from every Jewish sage wishing to continue in their role. Many swore loyalty outwardly to continue their duty of teaching Torah and wisdom. However, the head of the court, *Shammai the Elder*, refused. For reasons unknown, Herod spared him. *Shammai* and his scholars focused on the six orders of the Mishnah, striving to rebuild and preserve the Oral Torah, despite the harsh Roman oppression and Sadducean conflicts.

*Shammai*'s teachings survive to this day in the Mishnah. He founded the school of *Beit Shammai*, whose opinions, alongside those of *Beit Hillel*, underpin the Mishnah that Rabbi Judah the Prince compiled years later. *Shammai* was a towering figure, the era's leading sage, unmatched in wisdom and scholarship. His contemporaries, *Shemaiah* and *Avtalyon*, had passed away honorably, leaving *Shammai* as head of the court. The presidency went to the Bnei Beteira, who weren't as distinguished in Torah, possibly to avoid Herodian suspicion.

Despite *Shammai*'s endeavors to organize the Oral Torah, a lingering debate persisted: should one lean on an offering during Yom Tov? This disagreement over a practice, prohibited on Shabbat, reflects a divide in the community about ancient customs originating from the Great Assembly. *Shammai* held that leaning was not permitted.

At this time, a new issue arose regarding basic law: When Passover's eve fell on Shabbat, how should the Passover sacrifice be handled? What laws were overruled in favor of its rituals? Unable to resolve this with scriptural evidence, the Bnei Beteira conceded to a sage previously unknown: Hillel the Babylonian. Born in Jerusalem and a student of *Shemaiah* and *Avtalyon*, *Hillel* traveled to Babylon, seeking unwritten Torah knowledge unavailable in Israel due to conflict. Completing his Torah education and moral character, *Hillel* boldly demonstrated proper observance of Passover's eve on Shabbat, earning him leadership when his wisdom silenced the Bnei Beteira.

Thus, *Hillel the Elder*, as humble as Moses, became the Nasi of Israel. Opposed by *Shammai the Elder*, renowned for his sharp intellect, most scholars in Israel followed *Shammai*. Their methods differed, leading to the iconic debates between their disciples, the schools of *Beit Shammai* and *Beit Hillel*.

This academic pursuit occupied Israel's sages while Herod ravaged the land with tyrannical rule, constructing foreign cities, destroying Torah centers, and oppressing the people with extravagant taxes to fund imperial spectacles. The sages withdrew to the study halls, diving into laws of purity and sanctity, disregarding the political dramas, and focusing on spiritual resilience. Without these teachings, one might not even know Herod ever existed.

Yet, eventually, a confrontation between Herod and the sages occurred, to be discussed in our next segment.