Apparently, here in Canada
they are gearing up for an election. Signs supporting one candidate or another
are all over the lawns of people’s homes.
The news radio station has mentioned polls regarding the support for the
three major political parties: Conservative, Liberal, and NDP. I have even
heard some commercials that support Prime Minister Harper and the Liberal
nominee, Justin Trudeau. Listening to the commercials has been a real
education. One comments that the other guy is not yet ready for the job. One
comments that the other guy is out of touch with the common working class
guy. Like most things Canadian, the
commercials are civilized, there is nothing that is outrageous, and there is
nothing that is extreme. Even when these candidates are interviewed, they are
now ridiculous one liners, no insults, nor personal attacks. It is so boring.
Meanwhile, there are 6 months before the first Presidential Primary in the
United States and 14 months from the Presidential election. The signs are out. The
insults have been hurled like a food fight at camp. The ridiculous and outrageous
statements have been made and will continue to be made including building a
fence between the United States and Canada as a way of protecting America’s
borders from all those illegal Canadian immigrants. Candidates have been
classified as “losers”, “low energy”, “liars” and “dangerous”. On one hand this
theater of the absurd is very entertaining. On the other hand there are large
numbers of the American electorate that really believe much of the drivel, much
of the outrageous statements, the false assumptions about the current issues,
as well some candidates policies and solutions that contradict the
Constitution. Yes, American politics may be more entertaining. However there is
strand of the American electorate that is easily led towards the stupid and the
extreme.
This week's Parsha is Ki Tavoh. For the past several
Parshiot, Moshe has been listing and explaining all the precepts and laws. Last
week's Parsha and the first part of Ki Tavoh explain the rewards. We will
inherit the land; we will keep the land. Our enemies will be rendered weak. We
will be fruitful and multiply. However the second half of the Parshah explains
all the curses that would befall us if we neglect to observe these laws. Every
curse, of course, is the diametric opposite the previous blessings. So if we
were promised bountiful harvests and many children, then our curse will be
drought, famine, and bareness. Traditionally, the Aliyot that contain the
curses are read in a softer voice. However as horrible as these curses are, we
must understand that it is up to us. We can either follow these laws or not,
and as a result we will bear the consequences of our actions. This is not
necessarily a bad lesson for us as well as our children to learn. We are
responsible for our actions, and we must bear responsibility for the
consequences of those actions.
While there are all kinds of curses, one curse in
particular I find interesting given the fact that Moshe Rabeinu, the leader of
B’nai Yisroel, a “political insider”, is the transmitter of these curses. Arur Mashgeh Iveir Ba'Derech, Va'Amar Kol
Ha'Am Amen - Accursed is one who
causes a blind person to go astray on the road. And the entire nation said
'Amen" (Deut. 27:18). If we read this literally then we are talking
about a guide or a seeing-eye dog that would lead the blind astray. However
this curse is symbolic. We know that Torah is a light and the word Derech (way) is usually in combination
with the Way of the Lord (God's Laws). On a metaphorical level, the curse is
upon those leaders of a community that causes the less knowledgeable to go
astray. If that knowledge causes those who are blind (re: those who are in the
dark or without light) to go astray, then that leader should be cursed.
Implicit to that statement is that the one who causes the blind to go astray
sees the light, has knowledge and teaches or guides the community away from
God. The Talmudic Sages had
their own understanding of this curse. "If there are two teachers, one who
covers much ground but is not exact, and one who does not cover much ground but
is exact, Rav Dimi b. Nehardea maintained that the one who is exact and does
not cover much ground is to be appointed. What is the reason? A mistake once
implanted (in the mind or in behavior) remains [a mistake].” (Talmud Baba
Batrah 21a-b). Our sages essentially understand the first rule in education and
leadership and misguiding students, the electorate, and the masses was a serious matter.
It is terribly difficult to undo that which has already
been incorrectly taught. Maybe a dull, civilized election process that focuses
upon guiding the electorate towards informed decisions is better than a highly
entertaining yet ultimately destructive process that focuses upon misguiding
and misinforming the electorate so that they make uninformed decisions. Or,
maybe the electorate should not allow itself to be blinded by the shiny objects
of disinformation, pandering and demagoguery and focus upon the light of what
is best within itself.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
No comments:
Post a Comment