YOSSI: I really don’t want to leave Meron, Yoeli!
YOELI: Well then, I guess we don’t have to. There’s so much kedushah to tap into here. Close your eyes, Yossi. Imagine Meron about 2,000 years ago. Imagine Hillel or Shammai, who are also buried right here on Har Meron! The Tannaim are all walking up this mountain…
YOSSI: Well, when you say it like that… WOW! And it’s the perfect time of year. On Shavuos we received the Torah Sheb’al Peh and the Torah Shebichsav – Hillel and Shammai were the last of the Zuggos, and the first of the Tannaim – the Tzadikim said over the Mishnayos!
YOELI: Zuggos, Yossi?
YOSSI: The first generation of Tannaim were called Zuggos; pairs. Two tzadikim who would lead the Yidden, the Nasi and the Av Beis Din.
YOELI: Got it. Wow! And we are standing just a few minutes away from them! Just think of how many mishnayos Hillel and Shammai are in! I’m thinking about Hillel climbing on the roof in the snow to learn Torah!
YOSSI: Or the Gemara in Sukkah that says Shammai cut the ceiling to make a sukkah for his baby!
YOELI: I’m also thinking how they have so many machlokesin in Shas, but they were all l’sheim Shomayim. As we head towards Shavuos – that’s really important. We can disagree-
YOSSI: Us? Disagree? Nah..
YOELI: Ha! It could happen Yos! We can disagree, but if the goal is shalom, and if it’s l’sheim Shomayim, everyone feels respected. Enough talking! Let’s go find their kevarim and daven!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 36.