Editing Debate (section)

==== Debates with Conservatives ====
At the beginning of Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov's shlichus, it was suggested that he hold a public debate with a Conservative rabbi who was young and inexperienced. He thought that although generally the Rebbe discouraged entering into debates, this case was an exception where success in the debate was guaranteed, and the high exposure to authentic Judaism outweighed concerns about potential damage resulting from the debate.

He asked the Rebbe about this through Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov, and received the answer that he should avoid it for 2 reasons:

a) When sitting with someone around the table, the very act of sitting grants them legitimacy as an equal 'disputant' whose opinion is considered something to 'deal with' and debate.

b) Although generally when two sides debate, the side with deeper and more complex reasoning is correct, listeners to the debate are usually not experienced enough in understanding subtle nuances, and mainly look for the passionate fervor in the debate rather than the content.