Yaakov Mikhli asked:
Why is it that Beis Hilll is machmir in these cases and Beis Shammai is meikel? Throughout shas it's the other way around, so why do they have seemingly polar opposit shitos here? Thank you
Yaakov Mikhli, NY, USA
The Kollel replies:
Although, generally, Beis Shamai is more Machmir and Beis Hillel more Meikel, there are many cases in which it is the other way around. Many of these cases are recorded in the Mishnah in Eduyos, chapters 4 and 5.
In the cases in which they are Machmir, Beis Shamai are not Machmir simply for the sake of being Machmir. They are many considerations and factors for being Machmir. On occasion, Beis Shamai will be Meikel due to the many factors involved. The same applies for Beis Hillel.
Y. Shaw