The two great schools of learning, based on the two First Century rabbis Hillel and Shammai. We almost always follow Hillel, ostensibly because the rulings are more lenient. Sometimes Hillel's are not as permissive, but we still follow them.
This one has always bothered me:
"Said R. Joseph, Come and hear: A fowl may be served together with cheese at the [same] table, but not eaten [with it]: this is Beth Shammai's view. Beth Hillel rule: It may neither be served nor eaten [together]!"
Hillel's ruling is followed today. I understand the reasoning, to prevent an unconscious mistake. Although not boiling a chicken in the milk of its mother seems a little over the top. And then to restrict even having cheese on the same table?
The Talmud goes on to a far more disruptive example - forbidding a husband and wife from sleeping in the same bed when she is in a state of impurity from menstration, even if they are both wrapped in their own clothes and do not touch.
The issue is preventing an accidental mistake. But it seems to take the conscious effort out. And these secondary restrictions begin to take on a life of their own, becoming in a sense primary. Restrictions upon restrictions. That's a lot of Separation!
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