Hello Everyone,
Last week we learned about a ruling of Rabbeinu Tam’s which became the accepted Halacha; that ruling was that a bracha needs to be said when lighting the candles for Shabbat.
Today we will learn about a ruling which was not accepted. Rabbeinu Tam’s grandfather, Rashi, ruled that mezuzot need to be attached vertically to the doorposts of the home. Rabbeinu Tam ruled that they need to be attached horizontally.
I think that no one has ever seen a mezuzah attached horizontally to the frame of a door. Rabbeinu Tam’s argument has been ignored. But the story of Rabbeinu Tam’s ruling raises a a question. Rabbeinu Tam’s grandfather was Rashi. Rashi has an unequalled position in our history. Why, or perhaps how, could Rabbeiu Tam permit himself to disagree with his renowned grandfather?
After we study this particular Halacha we will see one suggestion of how Rabbeinu Tam approached the Halacha.