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Do Rabbis get punished in Heaven for wrong interpretations?


A holistic explanation of King David's use of AvishagWhy do we Daven for יראת שמים / fear of Heaven?how do we get out of non-achdus and golus?Why was Yaakov punished for not honoring his parents?How do I get myself to yearn for moshiach if I'm comfortable in the diaspora?Why were the Jews punished for 40 years if the spies were the ones who were there for 40 days?How does “everything is from heaven aside from fear of heaven” apply when others are doing the wrong action?Why did God created physical impulse towards the “wrong” womenCan Chazal be wrong?Why Did Yosef Get Punished For His Hishtadlut While Yaakov Didn't?Does a Ben Noach, who keeps the seven mitzvot but has bad hashkafah, get punished by Hashem?






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








6















Another irritating but sincere question. I had a Zchus of serving a great Rabbi Z"l here in Jerusalem who wrote lots of books on Torah as well as on Halacha and Shu"t. I helped him publishing his books for a decade and for his last years I was driving him to various medical procedures out of town and we had a lot of time to talk.



He revealed to me that he was afraid of Yom Hadin, that some of his interpretations or Shu"tim might be wrong (in the eyes of Hashem I suppose). He also added that this fear was constantly guarding him in his writings.



Does such a concept exist - that G-d punishes Rabbis for wrong interpretations?










share|improve this question






















  • judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/96618/…

    – Alex
    5 hours ago











  • @Alex...a fascinating question you've linked to there, but I don't see how it bears on the case at hand. Am I being obtuse or did you perhaps intend to link elsewhere?

    – Josh K
    3 hours ago












  • @JoshK The link is to Al’s comment on my answer, particularly the last sentence which may have been the catalyst for this question.

    – Alex
    2 hours ago











  • Now I get it. You may very well be right, @Alex. In my mind the scope of such "wrong interpretations" was limited to psak but this makes much more sense. Kol tov

    – Josh K
    2 hours ago











  • Probably a reason why not to become a rabbi

    – Daniel Ross
    2 hours ago

















6















Another irritating but sincere question. I had a Zchus of serving a great Rabbi Z"l here in Jerusalem who wrote lots of books on Torah as well as on Halacha and Shu"t. I helped him publishing his books for a decade and for his last years I was driving him to various medical procedures out of town and we had a lot of time to talk.



He revealed to me that he was afraid of Yom Hadin, that some of his interpretations or Shu"tim might be wrong (in the eyes of Hashem I suppose). He also added that this fear was constantly guarding him in his writings.



Does such a concept exist - that G-d punishes Rabbis for wrong interpretations?










share|improve this question






















  • judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/96618/…

    – Alex
    5 hours ago











  • @Alex...a fascinating question you've linked to there, but I don't see how it bears on the case at hand. Am I being obtuse or did you perhaps intend to link elsewhere?

    – Josh K
    3 hours ago












  • @JoshK The link is to Al’s comment on my answer, particularly the last sentence which may have been the catalyst for this question.

    – Alex
    2 hours ago











  • Now I get it. You may very well be right, @Alex. In my mind the scope of such "wrong interpretations" was limited to psak but this makes much more sense. Kol tov

    – Josh K
    2 hours ago











  • Probably a reason why not to become a rabbi

    – Daniel Ross
    2 hours ago













6












6








6








Another irritating but sincere question. I had a Zchus of serving a great Rabbi Z"l here in Jerusalem who wrote lots of books on Torah as well as on Halacha and Shu"t. I helped him publishing his books for a decade and for his last years I was driving him to various medical procedures out of town and we had a lot of time to talk.



He revealed to me that he was afraid of Yom Hadin, that some of his interpretations or Shu"tim might be wrong (in the eyes of Hashem I suppose). He also added that this fear was constantly guarding him in his writings.



Does such a concept exist - that G-d punishes Rabbis for wrong interpretations?










share|improve this question














Another irritating but sincere question. I had a Zchus of serving a great Rabbi Z"l here in Jerusalem who wrote lots of books on Torah as well as on Halacha and Shu"t. I helped him publishing his books for a decade and for his last years I was driving him to various medical procedures out of town and we had a lot of time to talk.



He revealed to me that he was afraid of Yom Hadin, that some of his interpretations or Shu"tim might be wrong (in the eyes of Hashem I suppose). He also added that this fear was constantly guarding him in his writings.



Does such a concept exist - that G-d punishes Rabbis for wrong interpretations?







parshanut-torah-comment hashkafah-philosophy






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 8 hours ago









Al BerkoAl Berko

8,3202 gold badges6 silver badges32 bronze badges




8,3202 gold badges6 silver badges32 bronze badges












  • judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/96618/…

    – Alex
    5 hours ago











  • @Alex...a fascinating question you've linked to there, but I don't see how it bears on the case at hand. Am I being obtuse or did you perhaps intend to link elsewhere?

    – Josh K
    3 hours ago












  • @JoshK The link is to Al’s comment on my answer, particularly the last sentence which may have been the catalyst for this question.

    – Alex
    2 hours ago











  • Now I get it. You may very well be right, @Alex. In my mind the scope of such "wrong interpretations" was limited to psak but this makes much more sense. Kol tov

    – Josh K
    2 hours ago











  • Probably a reason why not to become a rabbi

    – Daniel Ross
    2 hours ago

















  • judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/96618/…

    – Alex
    5 hours ago











  • @Alex...a fascinating question you've linked to there, but I don't see how it bears on the case at hand. Am I being obtuse or did you perhaps intend to link elsewhere?

    – Josh K
    3 hours ago












  • @JoshK The link is to Al’s comment on my answer, particularly the last sentence which may have been the catalyst for this question.

    – Alex
    2 hours ago











  • Now I get it. You may very well be right, @Alex. In my mind the scope of such "wrong interpretations" was limited to psak but this makes much more sense. Kol tov

    – Josh K
    2 hours ago











  • Probably a reason why not to become a rabbi

    – Daniel Ross
    2 hours ago
















judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/96618/…

– Alex
5 hours ago





judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/96618/…

– Alex
5 hours ago













@Alex...a fascinating question you've linked to there, but I don't see how it bears on the case at hand. Am I being obtuse or did you perhaps intend to link elsewhere?

– Josh K
3 hours ago






@Alex...a fascinating question you've linked to there, but I don't see how it bears on the case at hand. Am I being obtuse or did you perhaps intend to link elsewhere?

– Josh K
3 hours ago














@JoshK The link is to Al’s comment on my answer, particularly the last sentence which may have been the catalyst for this question.

– Alex
2 hours ago





@JoshK The link is to Al’s comment on my answer, particularly the last sentence which may have been the catalyst for this question.

– Alex
2 hours ago













Now I get it. You may very well be right, @Alex. In my mind the scope of such "wrong interpretations" was limited to psak but this makes much more sense. Kol tov

– Josh K
2 hours ago





Now I get it. You may very well be right, @Alex. In my mind the scope of such "wrong interpretations" was limited to psak but this makes much more sense. Kol tov

– Josh K
2 hours ago













Probably a reason why not to become a rabbi

– Daniel Ross
2 hours ago





Probably a reason why not to become a rabbi

– Daniel Ross
2 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















6














Avot 4:13




רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי זָהִיר בַּתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁשִּׁגְגַת תַּלְמוּד עוֹלָה זָדוֹן.‏



Rabbi Judah said: be careful in study, for an error in study counts as deliberate sin.




Bartenura ad loc:




אִם תִּטְעֶה בְּהוֹרָאָה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא דִּקְדַּקְתָּ בְּתַלְמוּדְךָ וְתָבֹא לְהַתִּיר אֶת הָאָסוּר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲלֶה עַל יָדְךָ כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂיתָ מֵזִיד:‏



If you err in a legal decision from your not being exact in your study, and you come to permit the forbidden; the Holy One, blessed be He, considers it for you as if you had done it intentionally.







share|improve this answer























  • I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

    – kouty
    6 hours ago











  • How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

    – Josh K
    3 hours ago











  • Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

    – Maurice Mizrahi
    1 hour ago











  • @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

    – DonielF
    1 hour ago











  • The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

    – Oliver
    1 hour ago


















3














Kiddushin 57a




כדתניא שמעון העמסוני ואמרי לה נחמיה העמסוני היה דורש כל אתין שבתורה כיון שהגיע לאת ה' אלהיך תירא פירש אמרו לו תלמידיו רבי כל אתין שדרשת מה תהא עליהם אמר להם כשם שקבלתי שכר על הדרישה כך קבלתי על הפרישה עד שבא רבי עקיבא ולימד את ה' אלהיך תירא לרבות תלמידי חכמים



As it was taught: Simeon the Imsonite — others state, Nehemiah the
Imsonite, — interpreted every eth in the Torah, but as soon as he came to, thou shalt fear [eth] the
Lord thy God, he refrained. Said his disciples to him, ‘Master, what is to happen with all the ethin
which you have interpreted?’ ‘Just as I received reward for interpreting [them],’ he replied: ‘so do I
receive reward for retracting.’ Subsequently R. Akiba came and taught: Thou shalt fear [eth] the
Lord thy God, that is to include scholars.



(Soncino translation)




Here the tanna acknowledges that he had made thousands of incorrect interpretations. Yet not only does he not think he's going to get punished for them, he thinks he gets rewarded for them!



On the other hand, we might also derive from this case that there are some exceptions. Rashi explains why the tanna refrained from expounding the "eth" in the verse about fearing the Lord:




שירא לרבות שום דבר להשוותו למורא המקום



For he was afraid to include anything to equate it with fear of the Omnipresent.




It sounds like the tanna was afraid of giving an incorrect interpretation, but not because it was incorrect per se; rather because it would be incorrect in a way which dishonors God. Thus, there may be a distinction between incorrect interpretations that have negative ramifications, and incorrect interpretations that are merely incorrect.



This might also be supported by another Talmudic passage:



Shabbat 96b




ת"ר מקושש זה צלפחד וכן הוא אומר ויהיו בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש וגו' ולהלן הוא אומר אבינו מת במדבר מה להלן צלפחד אף כאן צלפחד דברי ר' עקיבא אמר לו ר' יהודה בן בתירא עקיבא בין כך ובין כך אתה עתיד ליתן את הדין אם כדבריך התורה כיסתו ואתה מגלה אותו ואם לאו אתה מוציא לעז על אותו צדיק



Our Rabbis taught: The gatherer was Zelophehad. And thus it is said, and while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man [gathering sticks, etc.]; whilst elsewhere it is said, our father died in the wilderness; just as there Zelophehad [is meant], so here too Zelophehad [is meant]: this is R. Akiba's view. Said R. Judah b. Bathyra to him, 'Akiba! in either case you will have to give an account [for your statement]: if you are right, the Torah shielded him, while you reveal him; and if not, you cast a stigma upon a righteous man.'



(Soncino translation)




Here it sounds like the objection to R. Akiva's interpretation is not merely that it is incorrect, but that it is incorrect in a way which slanders a righteous individual. This might indicate that if an interpretation is incorrect in an innocuous way then the interpreting rabbi will not face any repercussions for the rogue interpretation.



When it comes to mistakes in actual halacha, it would seem that there might be more to worry about. For instance, the Talmud strongly cautions people against being involved in matters of marriage and divorce:



Kiddushin 13a




דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כל שאינו יודע בטיב גיטין וקדושין לא יהא לו עסק עמהן אמר ר' אסי אמר רבי יוחנן וקשין לעולם יותר מדור המבול



Again they sat and related: In reference to Rab Judah's statement
in Rab's name, [that] one who does not know the peculiar nature of divorce and betrothal should
have no business with them, R. Assi said in R. Johanan's name: And they are more harmful to the
world than the generation of the flood,



(Soncino translation)




In a Mishnah in Berachot (28b) we are told how R. Nechunia would pray that he would not make a mistake in his halachic rulings:




ר' נחוניא בן הקנה היה מתפלל בכניסתו לבית המדרש וביציאתו תפלה קצרה אמרו לו מה מקום לתפלה זו אמר להם בכניסתי אני מתפלל שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי וביציאתי אני נותן הודאה על חלקי



R. NEHUNIA B. HA-KANEH USED TO SAY A PRAYER AS HE ENTERED THE BETH HA-MIDRASH AND AS HE LEFT IT — A SHORT PRAYER. THEY SAID TO HIM: WHAT SORT OF PRAYER IS THIS? HE REPLIED: WHEN I ENTER I PRAY THAT NO OFFENCE SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH ME,3 AND WHEN I LEAVE I EXPRESS THANKS FOR MY LOT.



(Soncino translation, capitals in original)




The Talmud there cites a Beraita elaborating about what this prayer actually is:




ת"ר בכניסתו מהו אומר יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהי שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי ולא אכשל בדבר הלכה וישמחו בי חברי ולא אומר על טמא טהור ולא על טהור טמא ולא יכשלו חברי בדבר הלכה ואשמח בהם



Our Rabbis taught: On entering what does a man say? 'May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, that no offence may occur through me, and that I may not err in a matter of halachah and that my colleagues may rejoice in me and that I may not call unclean clean or clean unclean, and that my colleagues may not err in a matter of halachah and that I may rejoice in them'.



(Soncino translation)




Elsewhere in the Talmud, judges are warned to imagine the danger they are in by possibly ruling incorrectly:



Sanhedrin 7a




ואמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יונתן לעולם יראה דיין עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו בין ירכותיו וגיהנם פתוחה לו מתחתיו שנאמר שנאמר הנה מטתו שלשלמה ששים גבורים סביב לה מגבורי ישראל כולם אחוזי חרב מלומדי מלחמה איש חרבו על יריכו מפחד בלילות מפחדה של גיהנם שדומה ללילה



R. Samuel b. Nahmani further said, reporting R. Jonathan: A judge should always think of himself as if he had a sword hanging over his head and Gehenna gaping under him, for it is written, Behold, it is the litter of Solomon [symbolically the Shechinah], and round about it three score of the mighty men of Israel [symbolising the scholars]; they all handle the sword and are expert in war [in debates] and every man has his sword upon his flank because of the dread in the night. [the dread of Gehenna, which is likened unto night].




(Soncino translation)



The implication here seems to be that if the judge rules incorrectly, he will be subjected to "the sword" and "Gehenna".






share|improve this answer
































    -1














    No, I do not think Hashem will punish your rabbi simply because he made a few mistakes there and then. Of course it is imperative to proofread and correct any sources you may have misused, but to come and say that person is in hell is absurd. Only G-d knows who is guilty. Anyway Jews don’t believe in hell. For us, hell is more of a period of self reflection for 12 mouths max.






    share|improve this answer
































      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

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      active

      oldest

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      6














      Avot 4:13




      רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי זָהִיר בַּתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁשִּׁגְגַת תַּלְמוּד עוֹלָה זָדוֹן.‏



      Rabbi Judah said: be careful in study, for an error in study counts as deliberate sin.




      Bartenura ad loc:




      אִם תִּטְעֶה בְּהוֹרָאָה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא דִּקְדַּקְתָּ בְּתַלְמוּדְךָ וְתָבֹא לְהַתִּיר אֶת הָאָסוּר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲלֶה עַל יָדְךָ כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂיתָ מֵזִיד:‏



      If you err in a legal decision from your not being exact in your study, and you come to permit the forbidden; the Holy One, blessed be He, considers it for you as if you had done it intentionally.







      share|improve this answer























      • I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

        – kouty
        6 hours ago











      • How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

        – Josh K
        3 hours ago











      • Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

        – Maurice Mizrahi
        1 hour ago











      • @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

        – DonielF
        1 hour ago











      • The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

        – Oliver
        1 hour ago















      6














      Avot 4:13




      רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי זָהִיר בַּתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁשִּׁגְגַת תַּלְמוּד עוֹלָה זָדוֹן.‏



      Rabbi Judah said: be careful in study, for an error in study counts as deliberate sin.




      Bartenura ad loc:




      אִם תִּטְעֶה בְּהוֹרָאָה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא דִּקְדַּקְתָּ בְּתַלְמוּדְךָ וְתָבֹא לְהַתִּיר אֶת הָאָסוּר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲלֶה עַל יָדְךָ כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂיתָ מֵזִיד:‏



      If you err in a legal decision from your not being exact in your study, and you come to permit the forbidden; the Holy One, blessed be He, considers it for you as if you had done it intentionally.







      share|improve this answer























      • I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

        – kouty
        6 hours ago











      • How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

        – Josh K
        3 hours ago











      • Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

        – Maurice Mizrahi
        1 hour ago











      • @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

        – DonielF
        1 hour ago











      • The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

        – Oliver
        1 hour ago













      6












      6








      6







      Avot 4:13




      רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי זָהִיר בַּתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁשִּׁגְגַת תַּלְמוּד עוֹלָה זָדוֹן.‏



      Rabbi Judah said: be careful in study, for an error in study counts as deliberate sin.




      Bartenura ad loc:




      אִם תִּטְעֶה בְּהוֹרָאָה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא דִּקְדַּקְתָּ בְּתַלְמוּדְךָ וְתָבֹא לְהַתִּיר אֶת הָאָסוּר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲלֶה עַל יָדְךָ כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂיתָ מֵזִיד:‏



      If you err in a legal decision from your not being exact in your study, and you come to permit the forbidden; the Holy One, blessed be He, considers it for you as if you had done it intentionally.







      share|improve this answer













      Avot 4:13




      רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי זָהִיר בַּתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁשִּׁגְגַת תַּלְמוּד עוֹלָה זָדוֹן.‏



      Rabbi Judah said: be careful in study, for an error in study counts as deliberate sin.




      Bartenura ad loc:




      אִם תִּטְעֶה בְּהוֹרָאָה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא דִּקְדַּקְתָּ בְּתַלְמוּדְךָ וְתָבֹא לְהַתִּיר אֶת הָאָסוּר, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲלֶה עַל יָדְךָ כְּאִלּוּ עָשִׂיתָ מֵזִיד:‏



      If you err in a legal decision from your not being exact in your study, and you come to permit the forbidden; the Holy One, blessed be He, considers it for you as if you had done it intentionally.








      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered 8 hours ago









      Joel KJoel K

      18k2 gold badges30 silver badges104 bronze badges




      18k2 gold badges30 silver badges104 bronze badges












      • I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

        – kouty
        6 hours ago











      • How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

        – Josh K
        3 hours ago











      • Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

        – Maurice Mizrahi
        1 hour ago











      • @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

        – DonielF
        1 hour ago











      • The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

        – Oliver
        1 hour ago

















      • I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

        – kouty
        6 hours ago











      • How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

        – Josh K
        3 hours ago











      • Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

        – Maurice Mizrahi
        1 hour ago











      • @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

        – DonielF
        1 hour ago











      • The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

        – Oliver
        1 hour ago
















      I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

      – kouty
      6 hours ago





      I'm not sure if every wrong Halacha fall under this category

      – kouty
      6 hours ago













      How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

      – Josh K
      3 hours ago





      How about those following the erring rabbi's rulings?

      – Josh K
      3 hours ago













      Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

      – Maurice Mizrahi
      1 hour ago





      Teachings like this encourage rabbis to forbid everything without much thinking if there is even a shadow of a doubt. I know many rabbis do that anyway. Why stick your neck out?

      – Maurice Mizrahi
      1 hour ago













      @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

      – DonielF
      1 hour ago





      @MauriceMizrahi Indeed, the Gemara in several places says that it means a lot more when a Rabbi is lenient than when he’s stringent (כח דהתירא עדיף), as if he’s stringent it doesn’t necessarily mean he believes in his opinion but rather isn’t sure enough to be lenient (ex. Beitzah 2b with Rashi).

      – DonielF
      1 hour ago













      The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

      – Oliver
      1 hour ago





      The Mishnah is speaking toward negligibility when drawing a conclusion in a Torah matter. The question, presumably, is when a rabbi did his “due diligence” before reaching his [halachic] conclusion.

      – Oliver
      1 hour ago













      3














      Kiddushin 57a




      כדתניא שמעון העמסוני ואמרי לה נחמיה העמסוני היה דורש כל אתין שבתורה כיון שהגיע לאת ה' אלהיך תירא פירש אמרו לו תלמידיו רבי כל אתין שדרשת מה תהא עליהם אמר להם כשם שקבלתי שכר על הדרישה כך קבלתי על הפרישה עד שבא רבי עקיבא ולימד את ה' אלהיך תירא לרבות תלמידי חכמים



      As it was taught: Simeon the Imsonite — others state, Nehemiah the
      Imsonite, — interpreted every eth in the Torah, but as soon as he came to, thou shalt fear [eth] the
      Lord thy God, he refrained. Said his disciples to him, ‘Master, what is to happen with all the ethin
      which you have interpreted?’ ‘Just as I received reward for interpreting [them],’ he replied: ‘so do I
      receive reward for retracting.’ Subsequently R. Akiba came and taught: Thou shalt fear [eth] the
      Lord thy God, that is to include scholars.



      (Soncino translation)




      Here the tanna acknowledges that he had made thousands of incorrect interpretations. Yet not only does he not think he's going to get punished for them, he thinks he gets rewarded for them!



      On the other hand, we might also derive from this case that there are some exceptions. Rashi explains why the tanna refrained from expounding the "eth" in the verse about fearing the Lord:




      שירא לרבות שום דבר להשוותו למורא המקום



      For he was afraid to include anything to equate it with fear of the Omnipresent.




      It sounds like the tanna was afraid of giving an incorrect interpretation, but not because it was incorrect per se; rather because it would be incorrect in a way which dishonors God. Thus, there may be a distinction between incorrect interpretations that have negative ramifications, and incorrect interpretations that are merely incorrect.



      This might also be supported by another Talmudic passage:



      Shabbat 96b




      ת"ר מקושש זה צלפחד וכן הוא אומר ויהיו בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש וגו' ולהלן הוא אומר אבינו מת במדבר מה להלן צלפחד אף כאן צלפחד דברי ר' עקיבא אמר לו ר' יהודה בן בתירא עקיבא בין כך ובין כך אתה עתיד ליתן את הדין אם כדבריך התורה כיסתו ואתה מגלה אותו ואם לאו אתה מוציא לעז על אותו צדיק



      Our Rabbis taught: The gatherer was Zelophehad. And thus it is said, and while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man [gathering sticks, etc.]; whilst elsewhere it is said, our father died in the wilderness; just as there Zelophehad [is meant], so here too Zelophehad [is meant]: this is R. Akiba's view. Said R. Judah b. Bathyra to him, 'Akiba! in either case you will have to give an account [for your statement]: if you are right, the Torah shielded him, while you reveal him; and if not, you cast a stigma upon a righteous man.'



      (Soncino translation)




      Here it sounds like the objection to R. Akiva's interpretation is not merely that it is incorrect, but that it is incorrect in a way which slanders a righteous individual. This might indicate that if an interpretation is incorrect in an innocuous way then the interpreting rabbi will not face any repercussions for the rogue interpretation.



      When it comes to mistakes in actual halacha, it would seem that there might be more to worry about. For instance, the Talmud strongly cautions people against being involved in matters of marriage and divorce:



      Kiddushin 13a




      דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כל שאינו יודע בטיב גיטין וקדושין לא יהא לו עסק עמהן אמר ר' אסי אמר רבי יוחנן וקשין לעולם יותר מדור המבול



      Again they sat and related: In reference to Rab Judah's statement
      in Rab's name, [that] one who does not know the peculiar nature of divorce and betrothal should
      have no business with them, R. Assi said in R. Johanan's name: And they are more harmful to the
      world than the generation of the flood,



      (Soncino translation)




      In a Mishnah in Berachot (28b) we are told how R. Nechunia would pray that he would not make a mistake in his halachic rulings:




      ר' נחוניא בן הקנה היה מתפלל בכניסתו לבית המדרש וביציאתו תפלה קצרה אמרו לו מה מקום לתפלה זו אמר להם בכניסתי אני מתפלל שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי וביציאתי אני נותן הודאה על חלקי



      R. NEHUNIA B. HA-KANEH USED TO SAY A PRAYER AS HE ENTERED THE BETH HA-MIDRASH AND AS HE LEFT IT — A SHORT PRAYER. THEY SAID TO HIM: WHAT SORT OF PRAYER IS THIS? HE REPLIED: WHEN I ENTER I PRAY THAT NO OFFENCE SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH ME,3 AND WHEN I LEAVE I EXPRESS THANKS FOR MY LOT.



      (Soncino translation, capitals in original)




      The Talmud there cites a Beraita elaborating about what this prayer actually is:




      ת"ר בכניסתו מהו אומר יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהי שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי ולא אכשל בדבר הלכה וישמחו בי חברי ולא אומר על טמא טהור ולא על טהור טמא ולא יכשלו חברי בדבר הלכה ואשמח בהם



      Our Rabbis taught: On entering what does a man say? 'May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, that no offence may occur through me, and that I may not err in a matter of halachah and that my colleagues may rejoice in me and that I may not call unclean clean or clean unclean, and that my colleagues may not err in a matter of halachah and that I may rejoice in them'.



      (Soncino translation)




      Elsewhere in the Talmud, judges are warned to imagine the danger they are in by possibly ruling incorrectly:



      Sanhedrin 7a




      ואמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יונתן לעולם יראה דיין עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו בין ירכותיו וגיהנם פתוחה לו מתחתיו שנאמר שנאמר הנה מטתו שלשלמה ששים גבורים סביב לה מגבורי ישראל כולם אחוזי חרב מלומדי מלחמה איש חרבו על יריכו מפחד בלילות מפחדה של גיהנם שדומה ללילה



      R. Samuel b. Nahmani further said, reporting R. Jonathan: A judge should always think of himself as if he had a sword hanging over his head and Gehenna gaping under him, for it is written, Behold, it is the litter of Solomon [symbolically the Shechinah], and round about it three score of the mighty men of Israel [symbolising the scholars]; they all handle the sword and are expert in war [in debates] and every man has his sword upon his flank because of the dread in the night. [the dread of Gehenna, which is likened unto night].




      (Soncino translation)



      The implication here seems to be that if the judge rules incorrectly, he will be subjected to "the sword" and "Gehenna".






      share|improve this answer





























        3














        Kiddushin 57a




        כדתניא שמעון העמסוני ואמרי לה נחמיה העמסוני היה דורש כל אתין שבתורה כיון שהגיע לאת ה' אלהיך תירא פירש אמרו לו תלמידיו רבי כל אתין שדרשת מה תהא עליהם אמר להם כשם שקבלתי שכר על הדרישה כך קבלתי על הפרישה עד שבא רבי עקיבא ולימד את ה' אלהיך תירא לרבות תלמידי חכמים



        As it was taught: Simeon the Imsonite — others state, Nehemiah the
        Imsonite, — interpreted every eth in the Torah, but as soon as he came to, thou shalt fear [eth] the
        Lord thy God, he refrained. Said his disciples to him, ‘Master, what is to happen with all the ethin
        which you have interpreted?’ ‘Just as I received reward for interpreting [them],’ he replied: ‘so do I
        receive reward for retracting.’ Subsequently R. Akiba came and taught: Thou shalt fear [eth] the
        Lord thy God, that is to include scholars.



        (Soncino translation)




        Here the tanna acknowledges that he had made thousands of incorrect interpretations. Yet not only does he not think he's going to get punished for them, he thinks he gets rewarded for them!



        On the other hand, we might also derive from this case that there are some exceptions. Rashi explains why the tanna refrained from expounding the "eth" in the verse about fearing the Lord:




        שירא לרבות שום דבר להשוותו למורא המקום



        For he was afraid to include anything to equate it with fear of the Omnipresent.




        It sounds like the tanna was afraid of giving an incorrect interpretation, but not because it was incorrect per se; rather because it would be incorrect in a way which dishonors God. Thus, there may be a distinction between incorrect interpretations that have negative ramifications, and incorrect interpretations that are merely incorrect.



        This might also be supported by another Talmudic passage:



        Shabbat 96b




        ת"ר מקושש זה צלפחד וכן הוא אומר ויהיו בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש וגו' ולהלן הוא אומר אבינו מת במדבר מה להלן צלפחד אף כאן צלפחד דברי ר' עקיבא אמר לו ר' יהודה בן בתירא עקיבא בין כך ובין כך אתה עתיד ליתן את הדין אם כדבריך התורה כיסתו ואתה מגלה אותו ואם לאו אתה מוציא לעז על אותו צדיק



        Our Rabbis taught: The gatherer was Zelophehad. And thus it is said, and while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man [gathering sticks, etc.]; whilst elsewhere it is said, our father died in the wilderness; just as there Zelophehad [is meant], so here too Zelophehad [is meant]: this is R. Akiba's view. Said R. Judah b. Bathyra to him, 'Akiba! in either case you will have to give an account [for your statement]: if you are right, the Torah shielded him, while you reveal him; and if not, you cast a stigma upon a righteous man.'



        (Soncino translation)




        Here it sounds like the objection to R. Akiva's interpretation is not merely that it is incorrect, but that it is incorrect in a way which slanders a righteous individual. This might indicate that if an interpretation is incorrect in an innocuous way then the interpreting rabbi will not face any repercussions for the rogue interpretation.



        When it comes to mistakes in actual halacha, it would seem that there might be more to worry about. For instance, the Talmud strongly cautions people against being involved in matters of marriage and divorce:



        Kiddushin 13a




        דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כל שאינו יודע בטיב גיטין וקדושין לא יהא לו עסק עמהן אמר ר' אסי אמר רבי יוחנן וקשין לעולם יותר מדור המבול



        Again they sat and related: In reference to Rab Judah's statement
        in Rab's name, [that] one who does not know the peculiar nature of divorce and betrothal should
        have no business with them, R. Assi said in R. Johanan's name: And they are more harmful to the
        world than the generation of the flood,



        (Soncino translation)




        In a Mishnah in Berachot (28b) we are told how R. Nechunia would pray that he would not make a mistake in his halachic rulings:




        ר' נחוניא בן הקנה היה מתפלל בכניסתו לבית המדרש וביציאתו תפלה קצרה אמרו לו מה מקום לתפלה זו אמר להם בכניסתי אני מתפלל שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי וביציאתי אני נותן הודאה על חלקי



        R. NEHUNIA B. HA-KANEH USED TO SAY A PRAYER AS HE ENTERED THE BETH HA-MIDRASH AND AS HE LEFT IT — A SHORT PRAYER. THEY SAID TO HIM: WHAT SORT OF PRAYER IS THIS? HE REPLIED: WHEN I ENTER I PRAY THAT NO OFFENCE SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH ME,3 AND WHEN I LEAVE I EXPRESS THANKS FOR MY LOT.



        (Soncino translation, capitals in original)




        The Talmud there cites a Beraita elaborating about what this prayer actually is:




        ת"ר בכניסתו מהו אומר יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהי שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי ולא אכשל בדבר הלכה וישמחו בי חברי ולא אומר על טמא טהור ולא על טהור טמא ולא יכשלו חברי בדבר הלכה ואשמח בהם



        Our Rabbis taught: On entering what does a man say? 'May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, that no offence may occur through me, and that I may not err in a matter of halachah and that my colleagues may rejoice in me and that I may not call unclean clean or clean unclean, and that my colleagues may not err in a matter of halachah and that I may rejoice in them'.



        (Soncino translation)




        Elsewhere in the Talmud, judges are warned to imagine the danger they are in by possibly ruling incorrectly:



        Sanhedrin 7a




        ואמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יונתן לעולם יראה דיין עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו בין ירכותיו וגיהנם פתוחה לו מתחתיו שנאמר שנאמר הנה מטתו שלשלמה ששים גבורים סביב לה מגבורי ישראל כולם אחוזי חרב מלומדי מלחמה איש חרבו על יריכו מפחד בלילות מפחדה של גיהנם שדומה ללילה



        R. Samuel b. Nahmani further said, reporting R. Jonathan: A judge should always think of himself as if he had a sword hanging over his head and Gehenna gaping under him, for it is written, Behold, it is the litter of Solomon [symbolically the Shechinah], and round about it three score of the mighty men of Israel [symbolising the scholars]; they all handle the sword and are expert in war [in debates] and every man has his sword upon his flank because of the dread in the night. [the dread of Gehenna, which is likened unto night].




        (Soncino translation)



        The implication here seems to be that if the judge rules incorrectly, he will be subjected to "the sword" and "Gehenna".






        share|improve this answer



























          3












          3








          3







          Kiddushin 57a




          כדתניא שמעון העמסוני ואמרי לה נחמיה העמסוני היה דורש כל אתין שבתורה כיון שהגיע לאת ה' אלהיך תירא פירש אמרו לו תלמידיו רבי כל אתין שדרשת מה תהא עליהם אמר להם כשם שקבלתי שכר על הדרישה כך קבלתי על הפרישה עד שבא רבי עקיבא ולימד את ה' אלהיך תירא לרבות תלמידי חכמים



          As it was taught: Simeon the Imsonite — others state, Nehemiah the
          Imsonite, — interpreted every eth in the Torah, but as soon as he came to, thou shalt fear [eth] the
          Lord thy God, he refrained. Said his disciples to him, ‘Master, what is to happen with all the ethin
          which you have interpreted?’ ‘Just as I received reward for interpreting [them],’ he replied: ‘so do I
          receive reward for retracting.’ Subsequently R. Akiba came and taught: Thou shalt fear [eth] the
          Lord thy God, that is to include scholars.



          (Soncino translation)




          Here the tanna acknowledges that he had made thousands of incorrect interpretations. Yet not only does he not think he's going to get punished for them, he thinks he gets rewarded for them!



          On the other hand, we might also derive from this case that there are some exceptions. Rashi explains why the tanna refrained from expounding the "eth" in the verse about fearing the Lord:




          שירא לרבות שום דבר להשוותו למורא המקום



          For he was afraid to include anything to equate it with fear of the Omnipresent.




          It sounds like the tanna was afraid of giving an incorrect interpretation, but not because it was incorrect per se; rather because it would be incorrect in a way which dishonors God. Thus, there may be a distinction between incorrect interpretations that have negative ramifications, and incorrect interpretations that are merely incorrect.



          This might also be supported by another Talmudic passage:



          Shabbat 96b




          ת"ר מקושש זה צלפחד וכן הוא אומר ויהיו בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש וגו' ולהלן הוא אומר אבינו מת במדבר מה להלן צלפחד אף כאן צלפחד דברי ר' עקיבא אמר לו ר' יהודה בן בתירא עקיבא בין כך ובין כך אתה עתיד ליתן את הדין אם כדבריך התורה כיסתו ואתה מגלה אותו ואם לאו אתה מוציא לעז על אותו צדיק



          Our Rabbis taught: The gatherer was Zelophehad. And thus it is said, and while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man [gathering sticks, etc.]; whilst elsewhere it is said, our father died in the wilderness; just as there Zelophehad [is meant], so here too Zelophehad [is meant]: this is R. Akiba's view. Said R. Judah b. Bathyra to him, 'Akiba! in either case you will have to give an account [for your statement]: if you are right, the Torah shielded him, while you reveal him; and if not, you cast a stigma upon a righteous man.'



          (Soncino translation)




          Here it sounds like the objection to R. Akiva's interpretation is not merely that it is incorrect, but that it is incorrect in a way which slanders a righteous individual. This might indicate that if an interpretation is incorrect in an innocuous way then the interpreting rabbi will not face any repercussions for the rogue interpretation.



          When it comes to mistakes in actual halacha, it would seem that there might be more to worry about. For instance, the Talmud strongly cautions people against being involved in matters of marriage and divorce:



          Kiddushin 13a




          דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כל שאינו יודע בטיב גיטין וקדושין לא יהא לו עסק עמהן אמר ר' אסי אמר רבי יוחנן וקשין לעולם יותר מדור המבול



          Again they sat and related: In reference to Rab Judah's statement
          in Rab's name, [that] one who does not know the peculiar nature of divorce and betrothal should
          have no business with them, R. Assi said in R. Johanan's name: And they are more harmful to the
          world than the generation of the flood,



          (Soncino translation)




          In a Mishnah in Berachot (28b) we are told how R. Nechunia would pray that he would not make a mistake in his halachic rulings:




          ר' נחוניא בן הקנה היה מתפלל בכניסתו לבית המדרש וביציאתו תפלה קצרה אמרו לו מה מקום לתפלה זו אמר להם בכניסתי אני מתפלל שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי וביציאתי אני נותן הודאה על חלקי



          R. NEHUNIA B. HA-KANEH USED TO SAY A PRAYER AS HE ENTERED THE BETH HA-MIDRASH AND AS HE LEFT IT — A SHORT PRAYER. THEY SAID TO HIM: WHAT SORT OF PRAYER IS THIS? HE REPLIED: WHEN I ENTER I PRAY THAT NO OFFENCE SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH ME,3 AND WHEN I LEAVE I EXPRESS THANKS FOR MY LOT.



          (Soncino translation, capitals in original)




          The Talmud there cites a Beraita elaborating about what this prayer actually is:




          ת"ר בכניסתו מהו אומר יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהי שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי ולא אכשל בדבר הלכה וישמחו בי חברי ולא אומר על טמא טהור ולא על טהור טמא ולא יכשלו חברי בדבר הלכה ואשמח בהם



          Our Rabbis taught: On entering what does a man say? 'May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, that no offence may occur through me, and that I may not err in a matter of halachah and that my colleagues may rejoice in me and that I may not call unclean clean or clean unclean, and that my colleagues may not err in a matter of halachah and that I may rejoice in them'.



          (Soncino translation)




          Elsewhere in the Talmud, judges are warned to imagine the danger they are in by possibly ruling incorrectly:



          Sanhedrin 7a




          ואמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יונתן לעולם יראה דיין עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו בין ירכותיו וגיהנם פתוחה לו מתחתיו שנאמר שנאמר הנה מטתו שלשלמה ששים גבורים סביב לה מגבורי ישראל כולם אחוזי חרב מלומדי מלחמה איש חרבו על יריכו מפחד בלילות מפחדה של גיהנם שדומה ללילה



          R. Samuel b. Nahmani further said, reporting R. Jonathan: A judge should always think of himself as if he had a sword hanging over his head and Gehenna gaping under him, for it is written, Behold, it is the litter of Solomon [symbolically the Shechinah], and round about it three score of the mighty men of Israel [symbolising the scholars]; they all handle the sword and are expert in war [in debates] and every man has his sword upon his flank because of the dread in the night. [the dread of Gehenna, which is likened unto night].




          (Soncino translation)



          The implication here seems to be that if the judge rules incorrectly, he will be subjected to "the sword" and "Gehenna".






          share|improve this answer















          Kiddushin 57a




          כדתניא שמעון העמסוני ואמרי לה נחמיה העמסוני היה דורש כל אתין שבתורה כיון שהגיע לאת ה' אלהיך תירא פירש אמרו לו תלמידיו רבי כל אתין שדרשת מה תהא עליהם אמר להם כשם שקבלתי שכר על הדרישה כך קבלתי על הפרישה עד שבא רבי עקיבא ולימד את ה' אלהיך תירא לרבות תלמידי חכמים



          As it was taught: Simeon the Imsonite — others state, Nehemiah the
          Imsonite, — interpreted every eth in the Torah, but as soon as he came to, thou shalt fear [eth] the
          Lord thy God, he refrained. Said his disciples to him, ‘Master, what is to happen with all the ethin
          which you have interpreted?’ ‘Just as I received reward for interpreting [them],’ he replied: ‘so do I
          receive reward for retracting.’ Subsequently R. Akiba came and taught: Thou shalt fear [eth] the
          Lord thy God, that is to include scholars.



          (Soncino translation)




          Here the tanna acknowledges that he had made thousands of incorrect interpretations. Yet not only does he not think he's going to get punished for them, he thinks he gets rewarded for them!



          On the other hand, we might also derive from this case that there are some exceptions. Rashi explains why the tanna refrained from expounding the "eth" in the verse about fearing the Lord:




          שירא לרבות שום דבר להשוותו למורא המקום



          For he was afraid to include anything to equate it with fear of the Omnipresent.




          It sounds like the tanna was afraid of giving an incorrect interpretation, but not because it was incorrect per se; rather because it would be incorrect in a way which dishonors God. Thus, there may be a distinction between incorrect interpretations that have negative ramifications, and incorrect interpretations that are merely incorrect.



          This might also be supported by another Talmudic passage:



          Shabbat 96b




          ת"ר מקושש זה צלפחד וכן הוא אומר ויהיו בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש וגו' ולהלן הוא אומר אבינו מת במדבר מה להלן צלפחד אף כאן צלפחד דברי ר' עקיבא אמר לו ר' יהודה בן בתירא עקיבא בין כך ובין כך אתה עתיד ליתן את הדין אם כדבריך התורה כיסתו ואתה מגלה אותו ואם לאו אתה מוציא לעז על אותו צדיק



          Our Rabbis taught: The gatherer was Zelophehad. And thus it is said, and while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man [gathering sticks, etc.]; whilst elsewhere it is said, our father died in the wilderness; just as there Zelophehad [is meant], so here too Zelophehad [is meant]: this is R. Akiba's view. Said R. Judah b. Bathyra to him, 'Akiba! in either case you will have to give an account [for your statement]: if you are right, the Torah shielded him, while you reveal him; and if not, you cast a stigma upon a righteous man.'



          (Soncino translation)




          Here it sounds like the objection to R. Akiva's interpretation is not merely that it is incorrect, but that it is incorrect in a way which slanders a righteous individual. This might indicate that if an interpretation is incorrect in an innocuous way then the interpreting rabbi will not face any repercussions for the rogue interpretation.



          When it comes to mistakes in actual halacha, it would seem that there might be more to worry about. For instance, the Talmud strongly cautions people against being involved in matters of marriage and divorce:



          Kiddushin 13a




          דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כל שאינו יודע בטיב גיטין וקדושין לא יהא לו עסק עמהן אמר ר' אסי אמר רבי יוחנן וקשין לעולם יותר מדור המבול



          Again they sat and related: In reference to Rab Judah's statement
          in Rab's name, [that] one who does not know the peculiar nature of divorce and betrothal should
          have no business with them, R. Assi said in R. Johanan's name: And they are more harmful to the
          world than the generation of the flood,



          (Soncino translation)




          In a Mishnah in Berachot (28b) we are told how R. Nechunia would pray that he would not make a mistake in his halachic rulings:




          ר' נחוניא בן הקנה היה מתפלל בכניסתו לבית המדרש וביציאתו תפלה קצרה אמרו לו מה מקום לתפלה זו אמר להם בכניסתי אני מתפלל שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי וביציאתי אני נותן הודאה על חלקי



          R. NEHUNIA B. HA-KANEH USED TO SAY A PRAYER AS HE ENTERED THE BETH HA-MIDRASH AND AS HE LEFT IT — A SHORT PRAYER. THEY SAID TO HIM: WHAT SORT OF PRAYER IS THIS? HE REPLIED: WHEN I ENTER I PRAY THAT NO OFFENCE SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH ME,3 AND WHEN I LEAVE I EXPRESS THANKS FOR MY LOT.



          (Soncino translation, capitals in original)




          The Talmud there cites a Beraita elaborating about what this prayer actually is:




          ת"ר בכניסתו מהו אומר יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהי שלא יארע דבר תקלה על ידי ולא אכשל בדבר הלכה וישמחו בי חברי ולא אומר על טמא טהור ולא על טהור טמא ולא יכשלו חברי בדבר הלכה ואשמח בהם



          Our Rabbis taught: On entering what does a man say? 'May it be Thy will, O Lord my God, that no offence may occur through me, and that I may not err in a matter of halachah and that my colleagues may rejoice in me and that I may not call unclean clean or clean unclean, and that my colleagues may not err in a matter of halachah and that I may rejoice in them'.



          (Soncino translation)




          Elsewhere in the Talmud, judges are warned to imagine the danger they are in by possibly ruling incorrectly:



          Sanhedrin 7a




          ואמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יונתן לעולם יראה דיין עצמו כאילו חרב מונחת לו בין ירכותיו וגיהנם פתוחה לו מתחתיו שנאמר שנאמר הנה מטתו שלשלמה ששים גבורים סביב לה מגבורי ישראל כולם אחוזי חרב מלומדי מלחמה איש חרבו על יריכו מפחד בלילות מפחדה של גיהנם שדומה ללילה



          R. Samuel b. Nahmani further said, reporting R. Jonathan: A judge should always think of himself as if he had a sword hanging over his head and Gehenna gaping under him, for it is written, Behold, it is the litter of Solomon [symbolically the Shechinah], and round about it three score of the mighty men of Israel [symbolising the scholars]; they all handle the sword and are expert in war [in debates] and every man has his sword upon his flank because of the dread in the night. [the dread of Gehenna, which is likened unto night].




          (Soncino translation)



          The implication here seems to be that if the judge rules incorrectly, he will be subjected to "the sword" and "Gehenna".







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 2 hours ago

























          answered 2 hours ago









          AlexAlex

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              -1














              No, I do not think Hashem will punish your rabbi simply because he made a few mistakes there and then. Of course it is imperative to proofread and correct any sources you may have misused, but to come and say that person is in hell is absurd. Only G-d knows who is guilty. Anyway Jews don’t believe in hell. For us, hell is more of a period of self reflection for 12 mouths max.






              share|improve this answer



























                -1














                No, I do not think Hashem will punish your rabbi simply because he made a few mistakes there and then. Of course it is imperative to proofread and correct any sources you may have misused, but to come and say that person is in hell is absurd. Only G-d knows who is guilty. Anyway Jews don’t believe in hell. For us, hell is more of a period of self reflection for 12 mouths max.






                share|improve this answer

























                  -1












                  -1








                  -1







                  No, I do not think Hashem will punish your rabbi simply because he made a few mistakes there and then. Of course it is imperative to proofread and correct any sources you may have misused, but to come and say that person is in hell is absurd. Only G-d knows who is guilty. Anyway Jews don’t believe in hell. For us, hell is more of a period of self reflection for 12 mouths max.






                  share|improve this answer













                  No, I do not think Hashem will punish your rabbi simply because he made a few mistakes there and then. Of course it is imperative to proofread and correct any sources you may have misused, but to come and say that person is in hell is absurd. Only G-d knows who is guilty. Anyway Jews don’t believe in hell. For us, hell is more of a period of self reflection for 12 mouths max.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 8 hours ago









                  Turk HillTurk Hill

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