Defending the Opposite

Question

Dear Rabbi,

I am searching for a Jewish tradition that I have heard of but cannot find online.

When there is conflict and everybody is for one position, isn’t there a tradition that no matter how plausible it is to defend that position, one person will be dedicated to defend the absolute opposite position? Something like that.

I am looking for this tradition as I may have to defend my sister in such a manner because I love her. In short: It is a family argument and it could put peace to this. It is about the burial of my grandmother and it could happen that she’ll be excluded because she is rebellious to how we want the burial to happen. If I would exclude myself too in case she is then afterwards she would have nothing much to say anymore for having been excluded.

Please let me know what is behind that tradition ans where I could find something to read about.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Kind regards

Patrick

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    I think that what you are referring to is when the Sanhedrin – the highest court of law – would rule on capital crimes. Jewish Law dictates that when the proof was so overwhelming for the accused to be guilty, such that every single member of the Sanhedrin voted to execute him – the execution was stayed, because it was inconceivable that not one of the judges (of which there were seventy-one) found any redeeming factor that would allow him to rule in the accused’s favor.

    But, aside from that, there is no “tradition” that I am familiar with that designates a person to take the other side. In truth, within Judaism, such an approach is untenable, as the only factor that is supposed to define a verdict is the truth – and nothing else.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team