„The wisdom that increases through the rivalry of scholars, since it c…”

The Babylonian Talmud in Tractate Bava Batra says that "the rivalry of scholars increases wisdom," and in Tractate Sotah it is said that in the time preceding the coming of the Messiah, "in the footsteps of the Messiah the wisdom of scholars will decay." Rav Kook connects these statements and explains that the rivalry of scholars is fundamentally an evil. Therefore, despite the temporary good that comes from the very creation of competition, in the end it decays. The way to advance good competition is not through rivalry, but through drawing out the unique light of each person and each soul.