If only more people were like Rava and admit mistakes TB Baba Batra 127

Today’s daf TB Baba Batra 127 asked the question what happens when two boys are born by two different mothers and you don’t know which son is the firstborn to receive the double portion? Initially Rava taught “if two wives of the same husband gave birth to two males in hiding, so that it is unknown which son was born first, and the husband subsequently had other sons, each of the two possible firstborns writes an authorization to the other. Since their brothers can claim against each of them individually that he is not the firstborn and does not deserve a double portion, each writes the other an authorization to collect his portion, so that they can jointly claim the additional portion in any event.” (Sefaria.org translation) In other words these two sons give each other the power of attorney to collect the double portion. They can collect the double portion because one of them has to be the firstborn. After they collected double portion, they split it amongst themselves.

Rav Pappa questioned whether Rava’s ruling is correct based on what Rabbi  Yannai taught. “Rav Pappa subsequently said to Rava: But didn’t Ravin send a letter from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, stating: I asked all my teachers about this matter and they did not tell me anything; but this is what they said in the name of Rabbi Yannai: If the two sons were initially recognized, i.e., it was known which one of them was the firstborn, and they were ultimately mixed, and now the firstborn cannot be identified, each writes an authorization to the other. (An example of this would be the babies were mixed up in the hospital after one was definitely known as the firstborn.-gg)If they were not initially recognized, each does not write an authorization to the other.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Hearing this Rava admits his mistake in public. “Rava then established an amora to repeat his lesson to the masses aloud and taught: The statements that I said to you are a mistake on my part. But this is what they said in the name of Rabbi Yannai: If the two sons were initially recognized and were ultimately mixed, each writes an authorization to the other. If they were not initially recognized, each does not write an authorization to the other.” (Sefaria.org translation)

If only more people would be like Rava and admit he/she was wrong and correct the mistake. Too many times people will say, “Mistakes were made, but not by me.” I highly recommend reading Carol Travis and Elliott Aronson’s book Mistakes Were Made (but not by me): why we justify foolish beliefs, bad decisions, and hurtful acts. Read the updated version with the new chapter “distance, democracy, and the demagogue” especially before you vote on Tuesday.