[Avodah] Eilu v'eilu

[Saul Mashbaum via Avodah]

RMB:

Rav Moshe Feinstein discusses the halachic process and the role of
   poseiq in his introduction to Igros Mosheh. (The introduction itself
   deserves serious study.)  He writes about "ha'emes lehora'ah umichuyav
   lehoros kein af al pi im be'etzem galyah kelapei shemaya galya she'eino
   kein hapeirush - the true ruling, and one is obligated to teach
   accordingly, even if in essence is it revealed in heaven that this
   isn't the correct explanation!" The ideal is following the pesaq as
   according to the process.

This passage in IM is cited by R. Shalom Rosner in a systematic discussion
of the subject of eilu v'eilu in the course of a shiur on Ktuvot 57a at
http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/720210/Rabbi_Shalom_Rosner/Kesubos57.
Rashi in Ktuvot 57a invokes the principle of eilu 'v'eilu, (read and
explained by R. Rosner stating at about 18:30 in the shiur) and R. Rosner
elucidates this principle, starting at about 21:30 in the shiur, until
about 29:40. For anyone interested in a very clear explanation of the
various shittot about what eilu v'eilu means, I can't recommend this shiur
highly enough.

Very briefly, R. Rosner cites three approaches in the sources

1. Illustrating the truth - The Ran in Drashot HaRan drasha 5 - In this
approach, which severely limits the principle of eilu v'eilu, the Ran
states that actually only one of the opinions is true. The other opinion is
'divrei Elokim chaim' only insofar as it serves to illustrate and elucidate
the other opinion, which is the real truth, as the dark enables us to
appreciate a candle. The Chida in Petach Einayim, his commentary on Eiruvin
where the principle of eilu v'eilu is cited by the Gemara, takes this
approach as well. R. Rosner emphasizes that this is a minority opinion, and
personally finds it hard to accept, as he explains in the shiur.

2. Levels of truth - R. Moshe in the hakdama to IM, and R. Yaakov to
Bereishit 26, the Netziv in his Hakadama to Haamek Sh'eila, his commentary
to the Sheiltot). Using R. Moshe's terminology. there is Emet Shamaymit,
and Emet L'Horaa. Both are correct, and in this world we are obligated to
follow the emet l'horaa even if it deviates from the ultimate, heavenly
truth.

3. Multiple truths (Ritva in Eiruvin, Maharal) - Both opinions are true,
reflecting different perspectives of the subject at hand (IMO, this is
similar to the previous explanation, without establishing a hierarchy
between the truths expressed by the different opinions). R. Rosner states
that the Rashi in question on Ktuvot 57a takes this approach.

R. Rosner's explanation of the shittot is very lucid  and concise. He
refers in his shiur to Ktuvot 57 to a previous, more comprehensive shiur he
gave on the subject, but I don't know if that shiur is available online.

Saul Mashbaum
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