Hillel and Shammai

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Hillel and Shammai were two great rabbis of the Second Temple period. The two of them had an onging debate on matters of ritual practice. This debate played a major role in shaping Judaism as it is today. The matters they debated included:

Admission to Torah study. Shammai believed only students "of good family" should be admitted to study for the rabbinate. Hillel believed that anyone with the desire should be accepted. Hillel's viewpoint prevailed.^[1]
Conversion. Shammai tended to be hostile towards Gentiles who sought conversion to Judaism. Hillel was far more open-minded and welcoming. Modern Judaism is closer to Shammai than to Hillel on this point.^[2]
Divorce. Hillel allowed divorce for even trivial offenses, such as burning a meal. Shammai insisted that only a serious transgression could justify a divorce. Today, Rabbinical divorce courts tend to be more strict than Hillel but less strict than Shammai. Two things have changed considerably: 1) The option of civil divorce is available. 2) Women are just as likely as men to seek a divorce, perhaps even more likely.^[3]^[4]
Fasting. Shammai believed even little children should keep the Yom Kippur Fast. He had to change his mind about this. ^[5]
Hanukkah. At first a celebration of Israel's victory over the Hellenistic Syrian Empire, the focus of the Holiday eventually shifted to the miraculous lighting of the Temple's oil lamps. Shammai held that the lights should decrease on each successive night, beginning with eight lamps on the first night, ending with one lamp on the last night. This reflects the historical reality, as there must have been less oil available on each consecutive night. Hillel maintained that purveying positive symbolism by increasing the light gradually was more important, and his view prevailed. ^[6]
Mezuzzot. Hillel maintained that mezuzzot should be placed vertically on door lintels. Shammai argued for horizontal mezuzzot. As a compromise, mezuzzot are usually placed diagonally on door lintels.^[7]