Hillel and Shammai were their generation’s equivalent of Liberal vs. Conservative. When the prospective convert asked Shammai to tell him the main lesson of Judaism while he stood on one foot, the more aristocratic rabbi kicked him out. Hillel, on the other hand, responded, “What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor.” It’s the reverse Golden Rule, and makes more sense than the one with which most of us are familiar. The point is, Hillel was ready to listen to the potential Jew-by-Choice instead of turning him away. I’ll have more to say about that in a future article.

One of their more relevant controversies had to do with the kindling of the Chanukah lights. Shammai said all eight of the candles should be lit the first day, removing one each night. Hillel said, “Dummkopf! You increase in holiness; you don’t lessen holiness in your path of life. One for each night till you get to eight!” And that’s why we kindle the lights as we do.

For all intents and purposes, Shammai never won an argument. However, they did have one that wound up in a draw. One (not sure which though I have an idea) said the mezuzah should be affixed horizontally on the doorpost. The other said it should be affixed vertically. And that’s why you should place your mezuzah diagonally on the doorpost. Really!

On the other hand, there are those who say that particular argument was between the great commentator Rashi and his grandson, Rabbenu Tam (pronounced like “Tom”). Rashi said vertically – from mortals Heavenward - and his grandson said that because the Ten Commandments and the Torah were kept horizontally in the Temple’s ark the mezuzah should be affixed in that manner. Over a hundred years later, Rabbi Jacob ben Asher wrote…to accommodate both points of view, put it up diagonally.

And the great sage Rabbi Chaim ben Ephraim said, “As long as you have a mezuzah on your doorpost, that’s what counts…but if you don’t affix it diagonally then affix it vertically; the doorpost is too narrow for a horizontal placement.” (Guess who that great sage is)

One should realize that the more liberal of the two would emerge as the more dominant since until this day you hear little about Shammai but lots about Hillel. After all, the Jewish organization on our nation’s campuses is called Hillel.