An argument for the sake of heaven — a machloket leshem shamayim — is a disagreement over a point of Torah law or ethics, debated with pure intentions. In Jewish thought, while disagreements can be destructive, disagreements over matters of Torah help sharpen our understanding of God's will and how to understand and live according to the Torah. The classic examples of these kinds of disagreements are those between the late Second Temple era sages Hillel and Shammai.
Notable Sources
All Sources
A
Disputes for the Sake of HeavenMISHNAH
Disputes for the Sake of Heaven
MISHNAH
Disputes for the sake of heaven, like those between Hillel and Shammai, will endure, while those not for the sake of heaven, like Korach's rebellion, will not. Pirkei Avot, a work of ancient rabbinic ethics and wisdom from the land of Israel, describes these different types of disagreements.
Heavenly Disputes and Divine PurposeKABBALAH
Heavenly Disputes and Divine Purpose
KABBALAH
The Zohar suggests that disputes with pure intentions, like the divine separation of the firmament, serve a higher purpose and are enduring. This foundational work of Jewish mysticism offers mystical interpretations of the Torah, including the idea that heavenly disputes are akin to the divine act of creation.
Divine Conflicts and PeaceCHASIDUT
Divine Conflicts and Peace
CHASIDUT
Even disputes and wars, when aligned with divine purpose, can ultimately lead to peace and completeness. The Sefat Emet, a Chasidic commentary by Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, explores the concept of conflicts and divine wars, emphasizing that true peace arises from such struggles.
Abraham's Path to UnityMUSAR
Abraham's Path to Unity
MUSAR
Abraham exemplified the avoidance of unnecessary disputes, promoting peace and unity. Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, in his 17th-century work, explores the symbolic connection between division and the Hebrew letters bet and lamed, offering a deeper understanding of unity in the context of meaningful disagreements.
Dispute with Divine PurposeCOMMENTARY
Dispute with Divine Purpose
COMMENTARY
A dispute rooted in divine purpose endures because it allows opposites to coexist harmoniously. The Maharal of Prague, in his commentary on Pirkei Avot, a work of ancient rabbinic ethics and wisdom from the land of Israel, explores the nature of disputes aimed at truth and contrasts them with the inherent unity found in love.
Arguments Not for the Sake of HeavenCOMMENTARY
Arguments Not for the Sake of Heaven
COMMENTARY
The rebellion of Korach against Moses and Aaron serves as a cautionary tale of disputes driven by personal ambition rather than a genuine pursuit of truth. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks contrasts Korach's rebellion with the constructive debates between Hillel and Shammai, which are considered 'arguments for the sake of heaven' in Jewish tradition.