כל מחלוקות שהוא לשם שמים ( אבות ה:יז)

The Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh zt’’l and Reb Nachaman M’Horodenka zt’’l had different opinions on certain things.  One day, Reb Nachan heard one of his acquaintances speak ill of the Baal Shem Tov, and it bothered him greatly.

He shared a parable with his acquaintance: Two statesmen loved the king and wanted to present him with a new crown.  When the crown was completed, one statesman suggested placing a precious gem on the right side of the crown, while the other suggested putting it on the left side.  A simpleton who happened to pass the statesmen and overheard their argument, suggested it should be placed on the right side.

The statesmen started yelling at the simpleton: “Why are you mixing into our argument when you don’t understand the worth of the crown.  We can argue about it since we are close to the king and appreciate his greatness and the worth of the crown.  How can you mix into an argument that you don’t understand the context?

“The same applies to us,” explained Reb Nachman Horodonka to his acquaintance. “The differences of opinion between the Baal Shem Tov and myself are לשם שמים – for Hashem’s sake, similar to the arguments between Shaul and Dovid Hamelech or Hillel and Shamai.  Who are you to mix into a dispute about loftier things which aren’t within your grasp of understanding?”