General Introduction
Shamai the Old man it was one of the great sages pharisees of the time of the Second Temple, born in the first century a. C. and died around the year 30 d. C. His name is inextricably linked to its counterpart Hillel the Elder, with whom she starred in one of the discussions most momentous in the history of jewish thought: the tension between the School of Shamai and the School of Hillel.
Both were the last two great patriarchs (נשיאים, nesi'im) before the destruction of the Temple, and his teachings laid the foundation for the Mishnah and, in consequence, for all the Talmud.
I. Life and Historical Context
Shamai lived during the reign of Herod the Great and the early years of the roman rule directly in Judea. Was pharisee, and according to sources rabbinical, also a man of priestly family (cohen). He served as spiritual leader and, after the death of Hillel, was appointed Nasi of the Sanhedrin (the highest jewish court), although his term was brief.
The period in which he lived was marked by political tensions, nationalists, and religious. Rome imposed taxes and governors, while within judaism coexisted currents fariseas, saduceas, zealots and esenies.
In this climate, Shamai represented the strictness in the observance of the Torah, the religious nationalism and the resistance to cultural assimilation roman or hellenistic.
II. The School of Shamai (Beit Shammai)
The Beit Shammai (the House of Shamai) it was the school who systematized and expanded their teachings. Opposed to frequency to the Beit Hillel (House of Hillel).
The talmudic tradition collected more than 300 disputes between both schools, most of which were finally decided in favor of the more accommodating position of Hillel.
Main Features of the School of Shamai:
- Rigorism legal (Halachic): He interpreted the Torah literally, and strict.
- Emphasis on ritual purity and moral: Considered to be essential in the holiness even in the most quotidian actions.
- Separatism religious: Defended maintain a clear distance from the influences of the gentiles.
- Priority of the divine intention on the human interpretation.
- Nationalism: Beit Shammai was more inclined towards the rejection of the roman rule and contact with non-jews.
Despite its severity, his followers were deeply devout and sought the perfection of moral and religious.
III. Teachings and Doctrine Main
The teachings of Shamai are found primarily in the Mishnah (Pirkei Avot 1:15) and in discussions talmudic. Although his legacy doctrinal was less comprehensive than that of Hillel, its influence ethical and halachic is undeniable.
1. Aphorism main (Pirkei Avot 1:15):
“Make the Torah your constant occupation; say little and do much, and receive every person with a countenance friendly.”
This brief but dense aphorism summarizes his ethics:
- “Make the Torah your constant occupation”: Life must revolve around the study and fulfillment of the divine Law.
- “Say little and do much”: Calls to action above the words; the religious duty is shown in the facts.
- “Receive every person with a countenance friendly”: Despite its rigor, it teaches the value of courtesy, humility, and dignity in interpersonal.
2. The value of the religious duty
Shamai taught that the fulfillment of the mitzvah should be done for the love of Godnot for reward, and that the Law was an absolute character.
3. The sanctity of the home
Your school has established detailed rules on ritual purity in the home, the food and the festivities, seeking to reflect on what home to the holiness of the Temple.
4. Teachings on study and work
He defended the idea that the study should be accompanied by a productive life. The Torah was to be the axis, but the work had to maintain the dignity of the man.
5. Attitude toward the converts
In contrast with Hilel, that showed openness, and patience, Shamai was more demanding. According to the Talmud (Shabbat 31a), a convert was asked to learn all of the Torah, “while kept in a walk”, and Shamai rejected it; instead, Hillel received and taught the principle of love of neighbor.
This contrast illustrates his moral rigour, and its approach of doctrinal purity.
IV. Legacy and Later Influence
Although the legal decisions of Beit Shamai they were a minority compared to Beit Hillel, your ideas not disappeared: were integrated into the structure of thought halachic as dissenting opinions (מחלוקת), which enrich the debate and show the plurality of rabbinic judaism.
Relevant contributions to jewish thought:
- Deepening of the concept of holiness: Holiness not only as a spiritual ideal, but as a daily way of life.
- Defense of the ethical rigor, and doctrinal: Your posture generated balance against excessive flexibility.
- Moral inspiration: It represents the figure of the man of integrity, consistent, faithful to his principles even in the face of social pressure.
- Influence in groups later: Some movements of trend, more strict, as the “perushim” or the “chasidim of yesteryear,” took over aspects of its ethics.
V. Comparison with Hillel the Elder
| Appearance | School of Hillel | School of Shamai |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation of the Law | Flexible, compassionate | Strict, literal |
| Attitude towards the gentiles | Open, universal | Reserved, particularist |
| Ethics dominant | Mercy and patience | Discipline and purity |
| Decisions halájicas | Predominant in the Talmud | Minority but influential |
| Spiritual focus | Social harmony | Holiness rigorous |
In synthesis, Hillel represents the love, while Shamai represents justice. Both are the two complementary perspectives of rabbinic judaism.
VI. Relevance Spiritual and Philosophical
Shamai symbolizes the voice of the moral requirement, the absolute duty before God and the Law. Her figure reminds that spirituality cannot be divorced from the discipline and consistency.
In a deeper sense, its severity expresses the yearning of purity in a world which is perishable: the search of a divine order in front of the human chaos.
In the tradition of jewish mysticism later, some kabbalists associate it with the attribute of Gevurah (severity, justice), in contrast to the attribute of Chesed (mercy) incarnate by Hillel. Thus, both are considered to be reflections of the divine balance between justice and compassion.
VII. The conclusion of his legacy
The Rabbi Shamai it was much more than a jurist severe: he was a man who embodied the integrity of the Law in times of crisis. His life represents the fidelity without compromise, and his legacy persists in every discussion rabbinic where the precision, discipline and devotion are imposed on the sentimentality.
His essential message could be summarized as follows:
“Your life is a Torah living, your words few and your acts of many.”
