As Toronto, its suburbs, the province of Ontario, and I imagine Canada, and certainly, my home has experienced the emotional roller coaster of these NBA finals; fans of all walks of life will look at these athletes as heroes. Every Toronto fan will see Kawhi Leonard as a hero: he made the series-clinching shot against Philadelphia and taught his teammates how to win, how to handle pressure, how to slow the game down, play through pain, and put the team on his back. Certainly, in the realm of team sports, all of those qualities would qualify Kawhi as a hero. Fans in the Bay Area will look at Steph Curry or Klay Thompson and see how two players carried a deeply flawed team that had several key players battling injuries, coolly, and calmly save their team from elimination. While watching the game, we discussed the qualities that make a person a hero. Our children pointed out that there are two components to becoming a hero. One is circumstantial and one is the “make-up” of the person. They continued to clarify their answers pointing out that a hero doesn’t necessarily win or survive, but rather the individual or the group handle adversity without succumbing to pressure. A hero handles adversity with cool, calm and dignity even in the face of great pain or death. Our son reminded us that last week was D-Day, and those Canadians, American, Brits, Aussies and other allies were truly heroes because they did something extraordinary. They were also astute enough to point out that doing something extraordinary, rising to the occasion doesn’t mean that a hero is flawless or a perfect soul.
This week's Parsha is Naso. It covers a variety of topics. First, we read that once again, God commands Moshe to count. This time Moshe takes a census of the families in the tribe of Levi. Each family has a very specific role concerning the maintenance of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle). Second, after the census, we are reminded that anyone in contact with a corpse is considered impure and must be removed from the camp for a period of time. Third, we are also told that besides capital punishment, certain crimes towards members of the community are punishable by fines. We read about Sotah, the bitter waters a woman accused of adultery must drink. If she survives the ordeal, then she is innocent. On the day the tabernacle was finally completed, each leader of each of the twelve tribes brought gifts. Each day, a different tribe brought these gifts.
Before the twelve tribes bring their respective offerings, we read about those individuals who, if they so choose, can take upon themselves vows of abstinence. They are called Nazarites. In the Haftarah for Parsha Naso, we read about the birth of the most famous Nazir, Samson. The Nazir's vow of abstinence consists of no wine nor grapes, no haircut, no contact with the dead (this includes parents and siblings). He puts himself in a circumstance in which he tests his “spiritual strength”. His abstinence is a vow of purity; he shall not have any contact with death. "All the days of his abstinence he is holy to God." (Num. 6:8). Interestingly enough, the minimum time frame of this vow is only 30 days. That is all it takes to be considered heroic within this community: thirty days, no grapes, no haircuts, and no contact with death. Ironically, when the Nazir's vow expires, sometime after thirty days, he cannot just re-enter society. Instead, he must bring two offerings to the Kohen: a burnt offering and a sin offering. A sin offering: imagine that! Here is an individual who has voluntarily taken on more restrictions. Here is an individual who has successfully achieved a higher degree of piety. Now, in order to re-enter society, that individual must bring a sin offering. Is this the price for greatness? What is the sin? The sin is that the individual, in his/her attempt to achieve a higher level of piety, must voluntarily cut him/herself off from the community. This contradicts much of what we read in the book of Leviticus and even in Numbers. One is separated from the community when deemed impure by coming into contact with death. Separation from the community is a means of maintaining the spiritual purity of the community. The object is to remain in the community and elevate the holiness and purity of the community. The Nazir's actions contradict the aims of the community. The Nazir cannot join the community in Kiddush. The Nazir cannot prepare appropriately for an upcoming holiday with the rest of the community. According to Halacha, one prepares for a holiday by cutting hair, washing clothes, and preparing festive meals. Nor can the Nazir, along with the community help those who grieve. As a result, the Nazir must atone for voluntarily separating him/herself from the community. In a very real sense, there is a bit of a mixed message. Torah recognizes that there are those individuals who may adopt certain fanatical love for Mitzvot and God. However, it is quite clear that the laws regarding the Nazir do not condone fanatic behavior. To the contrary, the restrictions are quite minimal, the time frame is minimal, and the message is clearly unmistakable. Fanaticism, voluntarily cutting oneself off from the community, is a sin. One must atone for this behavior.
So where is the heroism? Heroism is not found in self-absorbed large actions. Heroism is not found in a one-shot deal. Heroism is not found in loud rhetoric. Heroism is found in the humility of small and usually selfless actions. Heroism is found in the constancy of appropriate behavior. Heroism is found in the quiet deeds that improve the community and the world without calling attention to oneself. Heroism occurs as part of something bigger than the individual. Heroism is the acceptance of the daily Mitzvot of Torah Study, Ethical/Menschlikite behavior, Prayer, and Gemilut Hasidim (Acts of Loving Kindness). We learn that heroism and greatness is something we can all achieve. So I explained to my son, that sometimes Heroism and Greatness does not mean one has must sink the game-winning basket and win a championship, nor does Heroism and Greatness require a person to die for one’s country. Sometimes heroism and greatness transcend success and failure, and, instead, it is doing the best that one can do under difficult circumstances. That being said, of course, our three teenagers consider Kawhi Leonard a hero. Hopefully, they consider him a hero all the while maintaining some perspective as to who is truly a hero.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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