[Avodah] Rosh Hashanah 32b "There's Hope for Everyone"

[cantorwolberg at cox.net]

The question was asked:
Nowadays.... I wonder if people still challenge their rebbes? ... . 

It seems to me that the more secure a rebbe (or scholar) is, the less defensive he would be.  I have always asked my students to actively disagree with me if they disagree. There is also nothing wrong with saying: I don't know, but I will check sources, etc. In addition, the whole structure of the gemara is arguing and challenging each other. 

For those who then will say, we don't have the wisdom, insight, knowledge or ruach hakodesh of the Rishonim and Acharonim and so on, does that mean, therefore, that we have to be automatons and cannot challenge anyone or anything?

Once someone says: Who are you to question so and so?, it becomes personal and can easily cause someone to become defensive. Wouldn't be more menschlichdik to say: Your question or disagreement is interesting (even if it isn't) but what do you base it upon?

The bottom line is that if ahavas chinam doesn't reign supreme, then HaShem doesn't reign Supreme either, chas v'shalom.

Kol tuv,
ri