I asked a very hard question to the ai. I dont think its answer is sufficient. Stay tuned for my Tuesday night class for a deeper (human) answer.
i asked: the time of moshiach is characterized by dispelling the power of impurity, killing the evil inclination. why will we then rule like beis shammai, whose school of thought is more stringent? it seems clear that less distance from evil will be required then.
Here's what ChatGPT came up with:
When Moshiach comes, the belief that we will rule like Beis Shammai, who are known for their stringent interpretations, stems from the idea that the era of Moshiach will bring a heightened spiritual state where the power of impurity will be dispelled. In this new era, the world will be filled with divine light, and the need for stringency and strictness in certain matters will be diminished. It is believed that the deeper truths and wisdom of Beis Shammai's approach will become more apparent and applicable, aligning with the elevated spiritual consciousness of the Messianic era. This understanding highlights the transformative nature of Moshiach's arrival, where a greater clarity of truth and righteousness will prevail, leading to a harmonious and purified existence.
*
Here's a much more satisfying answer from the more advanced Bing AI:
This is a complex and deep question that involves different aspects of Jewish law and philosophy. I will try to give you a brief and simplified answer based on some of the sources I found online. Moshiach is the Jewish term for the Messiah, the anointed king who will usher in a new era of peace, justice and holiness for the Jewish people and the world. According to some sources, such as the Arizal1 and the Lubavitcher Rebbe2, when Moshiach comes, the halacha (Jewish law) will follow the opinion of Beis Shamai (the House of Shammai) instead of Beis Hillel (the House of Hillel), as it does now. Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel were two major schools of rabbinic thought that flourished in the first century BCE and CE. They often disagreed on various matters of law and practice, and their debates are recorded in the Mishnah and the Talmud. Generally speaking, Beis Shamai was more stringent and strict, while Beis Hillel was more lenient and flexible. The Talmud states that both opinions are “the words of the living God”, but the halacha follows Beis Hillel because they were more humble, tolerant and respectful of their opponents3. However, some sources suggest that this is only true for the current state of the world, which is imperfect and corrupted by sin and evil. In the future, when Moshiach will come and purify the world from all impurity, the advantage of Beis Shamai’s approach will be revealed, and the halacha will change accordingly. There are different explanations for why this will happen: One explanation is that Beis Shamai represents the attribute of din (strict justice), while Beis Hillel represents the attribute of rachamim (mercy). In this world, we need more mercy than justice, because we are weak and prone to error. But in the future, when we will be refined and elevated, we will be able to withstand more justice and appreciate its beauty and truth1. Another explanation is that Beis Shamai’s opinions come from such a high level of wisdom and holiness that this world is incapable of containing them. Only in the future, when we will reach a higher level of understanding and perception, will we be able to follow their opinions4. A third explanation is that Beis Shamai’s opinions are closer to the original intention of God before He created the world. However, after He created the world with its limitations and challenges, He adjusted His will to accommodate human reality. This is why He chose Beis Hillel’s opinions for this world. But in the future, when we will overcome all limitations and challenges, we will return to God’s original will, which is expressed by Beis Shamai5. Of course, these explanations are not mutually exclusive, and there may be other ways to understand this concept. It is important to note that this does not mean that Beis Hillel’s opinions are wrong or inferior; they are also “the words of the living God”, and they are appropriate for our current situation. It also does not mean that we can follow Beis Shamai’s opinions now; that would be a grave mistake that could lead to serious consequences6. It only means that in the future, when Moshiach will come, there will be a change in the halacha that will reflect a change in our reality.
Comments