THE SCHOOLS OF HILLEL AND SHAMMAI

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Abstract

In many ways, Hillel and Shammai, and the ‘Houses’ they established, can be considered the beginning of what we call ‘the world of the Sages.’1 The halakhic traditions of the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai constitute the earliest and most fundamental layer of the Tannaitic literature — indeed, of the Rabbinic literature in general.2 The Houses of Hillel and Shammai are presented in the sources as distinct jurisprudential schools of thought upholding different opinions as to the law (halakha), and, less frequently, lore (Aggada). But what was the essential nature of these ‘Houses,’ and what engendered such pervasive and systematic controversy between them? In this article I will argue that the two Houses are distinct ‘schools’ not only insofar as their legal-halakhic thinking is concerned, but also in terms of their very approach to study. Indeed, the two are distinct academies (batei midrash) characterized by distinctive approaches to learning. My goal is to describe — to the extent that the sources allow this — the organizational structures, pedagogic methods, and views of the two Houses qua both halakhic schools of thought, and academic institutions. Focusing on their views as to tradition and reason as sources of knowledge.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Jewish Law Annual
Subtitle of host publicationVolume Seventeen
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages159-208
Number of pages50
Volume17
ISBN (Electronic)9781134049257
ISBN (Print)9780203929766
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2008

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2007 Trustees of Boston University. All rights reserved.

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