A good debate shouldn’t devolve into insults TB Baba Metzia 84

Today’s daf TB Baba Metzia 84 recounts the famous relationship between Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish.

The Gemara relates: One day, Rabbi Yoḥanan was bathing in the Jordan River. Reish Lakish saw him and jumped into the Jordan, pursuing him. At that time, Reish Lakish was the leader of a band of marauders. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to Reish Lakish: Your strength is fit for Torah study. Reish Lakish said to him: Your beauty is fit for women. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: If you return to the pursuit of Torah, I will give you my sister in marriage, who is more beautiful than I am. Reish Lakish accepted upon himself to study Torah. Subsequently, Reish Lakish wanted to jump back out of the river to bring back his clothes, but he was unable to return, as he had lost his physical strength as soon as he accepted the responsibility to study Torah upon himself.

Rabbi Yoḥanan taught Reish Lakish Bible, and taught him Mishna, and turned him into a great man. Eventually, Reish Lakish became one of the outstanding Torah scholars of his generation. One day the Sages of the study hall were engaging in a dispute concerning the following baraita: With regard to the sword, the knife, the dagger [vehapigyon], the spear, a hand sickle, and a harvest sickle, from when are they susceptible to ritual impurity? The baraita answers: It is from the time of the completion of their manufacture, which is the halakha with regard to metal vessels in general.

These Sages inquired: And when is the completion of their manufacture? Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is from when one fires these items in the furnace. Reish Lakish said: It is from when one scours them in water, after they have been fired in the furnace. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to Reish Lakish: A bandit knows about his banditry, i.e., you are an expert in weaponry because you were a bandit in your youth. Reish Lakish said to Rabbi Yoḥanan: What benefit did you provide me by bringing me close to Torah? There, among the bandits, they called me: Leader of the bandits, and here, too, they call me: Leader of the bandits. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: I provided benefit to you, as I brought you close to God, under the wings of the Divine Presence.

As a result of the quarrel, Rabbi Yoḥanan was offended, which in turn affected Reish Lakish, who fell ill. Rabbi Yoḥanan’s sister, who was Reish Lakish’s wife, came crying to Rabbi Yoḥanan, begging that he pray for Reish Lakish’s recovery. She said to him: Do this for the sake of my children, so that they should have a father. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to her the verse: “Leave your fatherless children, I will rear them” (Jeremiah 49:11), i.e., I will take care of them. She said to him: Do so for the sake of my widowhood. He said to her the rest of the verse: “And let your widows trust in Me.”

Ultimately, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Reish Lakish, died. Rabbi Yoḥanan was sorely pained over losing him. The Rabbis said: Who will go to calm Rabbi Yoḥanan’s mind and comfort him over his loss? They said: Let Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat go, as his statements are sharp, i.e., he is clever and will be able to serve as a substitute for Reish Lakish.

Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat went and sat before Rabbi Yoḥanan. With regard to every matter that Rabbi Yoḥanan would say, Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat would say to him: There is a ruling which is taught in a baraita that supports your opinion. Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: Are you comparable to the son of Lakish? In my discussions with the son of Lakish, when I would state a matter, he would raise twenty-four difficulties against me in an attempt to disprove my claim, and I would answer him with twenty-four answers, and the halakha by itself would become broadened and clarified. And yet you say to me: There is a ruling which is taught in a baraita that supports your opinion. Do I not know that what I say is good? Being rebutted by Reish Lakish served a purpose; your bringing proof to my statements does not. (Sefaria.org translation)

This story raises a lot of difficult questions. Yitchak Blau answers some of these difficulties in his book Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine. I would like to share with you his comment on their harsh responses to each other while discussing a fine point in halakha.

“I believe that the key to the story lies in the exchange between Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Elazar . The latter tries to console Rabbi Yoḥanan by citing proofs for everything Rabbi Yoḥanan says. Rabbi Yoḥanan is incredulous that Rabbi Elazar thinks this will replace Reish Lakish. It was precisely the ongoing argumentation between Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish that led to a flowering of Torah. This is what Rabbi Yoḥanan feels cannot be replaced. Rabbi Yoḥanan is teaching us that the ideal chavruta is not the person who quickly endorses everything his study partner says. On the contrary! The ideal chuvruta challenges one’s ideas. This process generates growth in learning. We should add the same principle also applies to other forms of friendship. Instead of looking for friends who will always agree with us, we should seek out those who are willing to tell us when they think we have erred, whether intellectually, ethically, or religiously.

“Assuming that the preceding idea reflects the essential theme of the story, we can now understand the harsh exchange. If the ideal study partnership involves argument, then there is a lurking danger that the arguing will get out of hand. In the heat of a verbal dispute, people will say things that they later regret that can no longer take back. Thus, the very strength of the partnership of Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish was the source of his downfall, as they temporally lost themselves the passion of the music debate…

“The possibility of having such productive interactions without resorting to harsh or insulting words is a challenge beckoning to all of us.” (pages 66-68)

Primary elections have confirmed that the 2024 elections will be a rematch between Pres. Biden and past Pres. Trump. When we vote in November for the next president of the United States, this story of Rabbi Yoḥanan, Rabbi Elazar , and Reish Lakish teaches us before we vote we should not only look at these two men, but who will be their advisors as well. We need people to challenge the President’s decisions to make sure that he hasn’t erred intellectually, ethically, and legally. A president who only wants loyal sycophants who always agree with him as advisors will surely will lead our country to disaster. Such a man is a danger to our democracy as well.