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B"H
My Thoughts From Up High
As I sit in an airplane, flying high above the earth, I am able to contemplate life from a different perspective and maybe even look at it more objectively. Or at least I try.
These days, a dismissive approach to honesty and integrity seems to be the common denominator that unites the right and the left. I think both sides may have misunderstood their proverbial motherly advice: she didn’t say speak truthfully, she said be truthful. A subtle differentiation perhaps, but nonetheless worthwhile to recognize. You see, many politicians are eloquent and erudite and would be loath to knowingly utter a falsehood. However, their conscience does not seem the least bit disturbed if falsehoods are promoted. (Yes, I know, that some politicians are so adept at being dishonest that they have long ago given up any apparent effort to speak the truth. And no, I’m not going to humor anyone or tip my political leaning by naming names.)
As a daily occurrence questions are raised by members of congress who know full well that an answer may not be legally given solely for the purpose of creating an impression of wrongdoing. The media doesn’t necessarily lie; they merely allow their readers or listeners to draw a predetermined conclusion. It’s acceptable in both the liberal and conservative media to paint a picture based on selective data to serve an agenda.
This effort to influence people’s perceptions exists outside of politics and media, as well. Last week the chief rabbis in Israel issued a statement asking that the faithful observe the Shabbat for an extra twenty minutes. Most righteous and pious rabbis wouldn’t outright lie or deceive, and came across as genuinely concerned that the Eurovision song festival was taking place in Tel Aviv over Shabbat. They feigned pain over the desecration of Shabbat and wanted to contrast that with an increase of observance. However, if truth be told, there was no increase in sabbath desecration as the overwhelming majority of Israelis are not observant of Shabbat. Furthermore, the contestants were mostly non-Jews who did nothing wrong at all. Thus, carefully orchestrated crocodile tears were only masquerading as genuine concern. It was clearly a political stunt aimed at elevating themselves to their constituents and further eroding any relationship with the secular majority. If they truly cared about the desecration of Shabbat, they would endeavor to build stronger relations with secular Jews and show them the inherent beauty of Judaism. Preaching from their pulpits to their religious constituents serves only to further alienate secular Jews, widening a rift that’s already exists. Instead of preaching, an important first step would be for the ultra-orthodox to serve in the army and show their secular brothers and sisters how they care about their country and its citizens. I think publicity stunts are exactly that, and serve only to erode trust.
Furthermore, how do mitzvot even work? Can one person keeping the sabbath an extra twenty minutes mitigate the Sabbath desecration by another? I can understand combating evil by doing good. There is often a direct correlation between an overwhelming portrayal of good in the aftermath of evil. However, in the eyes of Hashem, there is little reason to equate an individual’s positive act against another individuals negative act. Each person is judged on their own merit. For instance, if one student fails a test, will another child getting 100% on the test to offset the failing grade? It may bring the class average up, but one student’s success has zero relationship with another students failure.
Absoluteness is another issue that haunts me. I have many opinions on a wide variety of subjects. I am entitled to believe what I believe, but I don’t think that what I believe is the absolute final word on any given subject. To imagine that I am the sole arbiter of right and wrong seems a trifle bit arrogant to say the least. Recently, Alabama and Missouri passed extremely restrictive and, in my eyes, radical abortion laws. Whether I agree with them or not has little impact on their legislative process and ultimately their agenda is to force the Supreme Court to re-examine Roe versus Wade. While I have confidence in our judicial system want to steer clear of offering personal opinions, the absoluteness of positions that astounds me. How does anyone have the audacity to play the God game? Can anyone honestly know how a rape victim feels carrying her rapist’s baby and being reminded daily of his torturous and barbaric act? Does anyone know how that will impact on her physical or mental health, as well as her ability to parent the child? Can a court decide unilaterally that her carrying the baby won’t have long term ramifications on hers and the baby’s health? Conversely, let’s ignore religion and its theology regarding embryos, as I believe in the separation of church and state. But who can say with absolute certainty when life starts? Even if you believe in a woman’s right to choose, can you say without any qualms that that life doesn’t start at conception?
There is a fascinating Talmudic ruling: when all members of the high court are unanimous in their guilty verdict the litigant is immediately set free. The Talmudic explanation is quite elucidating; if all the twenty three judges were of the same mindset, the litigant could not have had a fair trial. If everyone is absolute, they are unable to give the litigant a fair trial. One must have the ability to see matters from an alternative perspective. In other words, if everyone sees issues with the same lens it’s impossible to see matters clearly. Imagine if we put that Talmudic idea into practice. How much better our world would be if all those who are pro-choice could consider the possibility that pro-lifers are correct. And all those that are pro-life do exactly the same and consider the possibility that abortion is the best option. Imagine that this was not limited to a single controversy, but was actually the way we considered leading our lives. Instead of condemning those we disagree with, consider the possibility that it is they who are correct and we are wrong.
Imagine if the rabbis decided to participate in the Eurovision from Sunday to Friday and express support for something out of their comfort zone. Imagine if instead of making negative proclamations they would have focused on a group of handicapped musicians that decided religion was more important than winning. This group of talented musicians decided to forego their one chance of international recognition and stardom. The group had a mix of religious and secular Jews who collectively withdrew from consideration for Eurovision because it was taking place on Shabbat. Imagine how their plight could have been highlighted by those rabbis and used to promote a unique coexistence. It would have been a huge ‘Kiddush Hashem,’ a genuine sanctification of Hashem. Instead they wasted the opportunity by injecting their own political agenda.
I guess going away for a few days and being confined to 21 inches of space at 37,000 feet gave me ample time to at least consider the possibility. And if there are those with concerns that my ideas are dangerous, I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. Our cultural, religious and political divide is at the verge of spiraling out of control. Perhaps any suggestion is better than continuing the current trajectory. And of course, I will be the first to consider that I may be wrong. But hopefully, maybe just maybe, others may consider that I may be correct.
Rabbi Jack Engel
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