Rabbi Leivi Sudak
Rabbi Leivi Sudak is the rabbi of Lubavitch of Edgware. Each week, he enlightens us about religious rituals and traditions with his A to Z of Jewish customs.
Hillel (and the Convert)
Conversion to Judaism is a sensitive subject; and has been for a long while, even as far back as the lifetime of Hillel.
Hillel had a contemporary, Shamai, with whom he was extremely close. Yet Hillel had a different manner of assessing a Torah position than Shamai. Hillel, notwithstanding that he was Leader of the Jewish people of that time, gave Shamai much respect and let people know that he placed Shamai before him. So, to many, Shamai was 'the Rabbi', the first one to be approached for a Jewish-legal opinion.
The following story illustrates some of their differences:
A non-Jew once approached Shamai with a strange request, 'Please convert me to become Jewish whilst I remain standing on one foot.' Shamai rejected the attitude of this man, and sent him away with 'amass habinyan' - a builder's measuring stick. So the non-Jew approached Hillel with the same request, but Hillel did not reject him. Instead, he taught him a lesson whilst he remained standing on the one foot. Hillel's lesson was: "Do not do to others that which you yourself despise. This is the entirety of the Torah, the rest is the commentary, now go study the commentary."
The obvious question is how could their approaches to the same question differ so much? It is clear that once Hillel had approved the conversion, Shamai did not challenge it. So why did he reject the prospects request in such a stark manner?
The simplest manner to describe Shamai's action is to explain that a measuring stick bears a series of markings (for us, centimetres or inches). So the measuring stick is a symbol of following a progression of rules one at a time, until one completes the required measure. Shamai was saying that becoming a Jew is a lofty undertaking and requires each and every stage and detail to be completed and fulfilled. The Rebbe explained (at a Farbrengen, Summer 1983) that 'ammas habinyon' is more than a measuring stick, it is a 'try square' - the tool that assures the builder that all his angles are correct and his building will not subsequently collapse. Shamai was saying to the prospect, if you do your conversion in such a rushed manner, it may not last. It may implode because you have not paid heed to the details.
Hillel felt that one has to avail goodness to one who seeks it, not withholding the privilege any longer than absolutely necessary. So he defined a method by which he felt this could be achieved. He directed the non-Jew towards the central column of all our responsibilities as a Jew, and if the man accepted that then Hillel would grant him his 'Geirus' (conversion).
Shamai and Hillel both followed a principle they had previously declared. On the eight days of Chanukah we light the Menorah - a lamp of eight lights. Shamai says light eight candles on the first night and decrease one each night, just as a decreasing number of bullocks were offered on Succos in the Beis Hamikdosh (Temple in Yerusholayim). The bullocks were offerings brought on behalf of the Nations of the World, and the Chanukah lights are lit in order to defeat the darkness brought on by Mankind. Both functions need us to summon all our holy energy at the outset and only then may we 'relax'. So too, with becoming a Ger (convert to Judaism), the prospect must show all his commitment at the outset.
Hillel says light your menorah with an increasing intensity, because holiness is a progressively increasing experience. So, as long as the prospect had demonstrated true intent and willingness to learn more, he could wait for the next opportunity when he could rise up another rung and then another. Hillel gave the man Geirus as soon as that intent was successfully displayed, seeing no point in withholding the good from a well-intended person.
We too, must, in spite of our (presumed) deficiencies, harness our opportunities, and improve ourselves each and every day.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
In merit of Tzfanyoh Menashe ben Rivkoh, who shall be blessed
