Q&A: Acceptance of Earlier Generations
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Acceptance of Earlier Generations
Question
How can it be that the Amoraim accepted upon themselves not to disagree with the Tannaim, and yet sometimes an Amora takes two parts of a ruling from two Tannaim who disagree in principle, and essentially builds from them a new position?
Answer
I once wrote about this in Middah Tovah (I don’t remember where exactly at the moment). My claim there was that the commitment is not to people but to opinions. Therefore, there is no problem with an Amora choosing opposing Tannaitic opinions in two different cases, so long as there is a Tannaitic opinion supporting each side. Of course, if the two rulings cannot be reconciled with one another, then it is impossible, since that would create a contradiction within the Amora’s own view.