Jewish%20thought for Berakhot 126:4

בשלמא הוא מטהר והם מטמאין לחומרא אלא הוא מטמא והם מטהרין היכי הוי והא תניא חכם שטמא אין חברו רשאי לטהר אסר אין חברו רשאי להתיר קסברי כי היכי דלא נגררו בתריה:

It is quite right that Hananyah declared something unclean and they pronounced it clean ; that is merely taking the stricter view. But how could he declare anything unclean and they pronounce it clean? For lo, there is a teaching: If a Sage declares anything unclean, his colleague is not allowed to pronounce it clean ; and if he declares it forbidden, his colleague is not allowed to pronounce it permissible! They thought [to act thus] so that the people may not be led by him.

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