In the time of Moshiach, the law will be according to the opinion of Shammai, who is strict, rather than according to Hillel, who is lenient. The students of Shammai were on a higher level of Torah learning – they were more “sharp” – but since the students of Hillel were the majority, the law was decided according to them, as the rule is that the law is according to the opinion of the majority. In the time of Moshiach, when all the Jews will be extremely wise, especially those that will be part of the great court, the Sages will vote and decide according to Shammai’s opinion, because their minds will be on a higher level, “sharper” like Shammai’s students. Shammai’s approach was to look at potential, while Hillel’s approach was to look at how things actually are. Shammai was stricter, avoiding and forbidding even things that have potential negativity. In the time of Moshiach, we will all be on the level where we are able to do that.
The negative commandments are on a higher level than the positive commandments. They are like grasping what G-d is not, which is higher than grasping what He is, since He is unlimited and impossible to truly grasp. In the Redemption through Moshiach, we will actually be able to grasp things that are so high that we can only grasp what they are not, in a way that we grasp what they are.
(See talk of the Lubavitcher Rebbe King Moshiach Shlita, Shavuos 5751 (1991))
