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at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Oct 13, 1988
Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Eliezer differed on every conceivable issue yet their friendship from childhood guaranteed esteem. So why in the case of Aknai’s oven did Rabbi Yehoshua initiate or at least support such harsh censure of Rabbi Eliezer? Rabbi Yehoshua, ugly and poor, was nevertheless was one of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakai’s devoted students. Having witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem he lobbied for limits on mourning in order that everyone could bear it and that mourning wouldn’t interfere with living. Indeed, his general outlook was one of moderation. His uncharacteristic harshness toward Rabbi Eliezer in the case of the oven came to the fore because he saw that Rabbi Eliezer’s reliance on miracles threatened to undermine rational study of the Torah and would thereby imperil the survival of the Jewish people. After Rabbi Eliezer’s passing his friend Rabbi Yehoshua returned to him the credit that had been taken away. In truth, Rabbi Yehoshua too celebrated miracles--but those of the everyday.
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