Source of Torah knowledge

 Raavad (Sefer Kabbalah): This book “Sefer Kabbalah” that I have written is to inform the students that all the words of our Sages – the rabbis of the Mishna & Talmud – were all transmitted from one great tzadik to another great tzadik, from rosh yeshiva and his supporters to another rosh yeshiva and his supporters all the way back to the Great Assembly which received it from the Prophets. The Sages of the Talmud and surely those of the Sages of the Mishna – even for a minor issue - never said anything original except for the decrees that they made with unanimous consent in order to make a protective fence around the Torah. If a person whispers and says, “Because the Sages had disputes over many issues there I am uncertain about the validity of their words,” you should sharply rebuke him and tell him that he has the legal status of a rebel. The fact is that our Sages never argued about the existence of a particular mitzva but rather the details. That is because they heard about the essential nature of the mitzva but did not ask about all the details of the mitzva because they did not serve their teachers properly. For example they didn’t argue whether there should be lights lit for Shabbos. They only argued as to the appropriate material to use for the wicks and what fuel should be used.