There is an inevitability within human life and measurement of time. It is the tense of time reflected in the title. It results in blurred together memories, clumping together with a blending of time, past, present and future. Ties once unseen are clearly distinct now and puts another face on the memories. The first and the second and all the memories and resultant understandings are all valid. In fact, it is a good thing to often compare what has happened in the past and connect it to the other time tenses. It enables a linkage, a continuity and a deeper understanding of cause and effect, no matter the distance separating them. It is valid and crucial for the world in general and for the Jews in particular.
What is amazing and confusing is the phenomenon wherein people brought up in a most similar manner, and times, who have at least outwardly. the same kind of life turn out so different. Even memories of the same event are different. Often, the end result is differing accounts and ideas of causation and consequence. So different. as to be bizarre. How could this be? It makes no sense, yet there it is. Which is right, which one wrong? Is it possible that both are wrong, and right? The comprehension of this is important, of great consequence. Memories of personal impressions and evaluations drive people and societies. Too often that drive goes up the wrong driveway with a dead end, no exit, no reverse space and leads to great tragic consequence.
Yet all along, properly handled and understood, viewed with an open mind, apparently thoroughly wicked ideas can be sifted and sorted to find within a kernel of positivity, of usefulness. It might be the idea before it was perverted and twisted beyond recognition. It might prove to be a kernel of inspiration allowing for enlightenment. That old warning to not throw out the baby with the bath water carries weight.
This brings to mind a Talmudic precept which took some time of maturation and experience to internalize, understand and accept. It is still not easy to always accept, particularly when every cell in your body is telling you otherwise, in loud hectoring tone. Coincidentally, I came across this very idea in an excellent essay or column which spoke to it, especially as it relates to Jews and Judaism, the huge spectrum of what Judaism is and who Jews are.
The concept is "Elu v'elu". 'These and Those. Both sides, all sides. are worthy of receiving a hearing. All opinions must be dredged to seek out that kernel that we so desperately need to inspire and even redirect us before too late. These and Those and always the choice is ours. It is a reminder to us that from Evil can come Good and from Good can come Evil. It is up to us to discern the one from the other. We are the ones making the choices and we are the ones to live with the consequences. Good and evil. But always the choice is ours.
Ela v'elu. These and Those. Both be accepted and rejected at one and the same time. I believe when we human beings, when we Jews, when all people can look at differing opinions, think about them, validate or invalidate and reject, after somber thought, only then can we begin to approach the entire idea of man created in the image of God. God has the ability to make the distinction between Ale v'elu and follow that distinction, in and around all the words, all the concepts, all the consequences. All the corollaries. These and those -an enrichment and a path to a better world in general and for us in particular.
There is so much that is wrong with the world today. We cannot fix the top unless we fix the bottom first. There is a maxim which states that idea in so many words. People get the leaders they deserve. And why do they deserve those leaders? Because they have enabled them, allowed them to climb the ladder to supposedly represent what we wish, what we hope. In the best of worlds, the best of us would lead, but tragically, we are too often highlighting and choosing the worst of us. We become lost in an enchanted forest so thick with trees we cannot see our way out or around. We cannot even distinguish one tree from another. Inevitably, in our search for the proper direction we climb the wrong trees and follow the wrong branches until there are no branches left to follow and we fall and land hard.
Ela v'elu. These and Those. We must be alert and. learn to discern and differentiate, to choose the wise leaders, to be wise ourselves. We must seek and know that the commonalities of people are far more important than the differences. We can value both in a proper manner. Unfortunately, throughout the history of mankind, we have not done so, using, actually misusing, surface appearances.as far more important than the commonality beneath the skin and visible traits. That is a defect within our thinking, with our approach to life and it has had a most negative effect upon the history of the world and in particular, the history of the Jews.
That approach always led and will continue to lead to the dehumanization and the demonization of the 'other' as defined by the society. This defective thinking finds its way into the particular societies, including the society of Jews. We, all of the world, ignore the commonalities and the society which can be built upon them and deride and discard the differences, using them to climb over the 'other' and tragically lose the enrichment those differences can gift to society. The results: wars and enmity, no solutions to common problems. A waste of resources.
Unfortunately, we Jews are afflicted and affected by that same defect. We look at other Jews who might practice differently or not in the same degree, who even look different. And yet we are all Jews. The liturgy and customs might differ somewhat; however, that should make no difference. And yet it does. While we Jews might make a joke about things, we need to be careful, for the outside world does not understand and is always eager to laugh at and not with, at our expense, and upon which they build a stereotype of 'the Jew' and it is most definitely not positive, nor complementary. Not good for the Jews. Not at all.
Worse is when we ourselves separate ourselves from other Jews, drawing definitions and boundaries which are offensive, off putting and even dangerous as it weakens our unity. At times such as these, when our kids are afraid to walk on the campuses of universities, we must be together. We must be unified. We cannot afford to discard those of our family who feel ignored or as 'others' among fellow Jews, their family at large. Perhaps they might have felt as 'others' within their own people. They might have sought company and acceptance and found it among enemies of our people, of their people, who call for their deaths and praise the savage butchers of Hamas.
One day we all will understand that no matter how we classify ourselves, the world looks at us as one, indivisible, indistinguishable. Differences among us are of no importance to them. and should definitely not be of importance to us. We have many friends. among non-Jews, but history has shown us - not nearly enough. We are not the buddies of the world but rather the convenient target of jokes, caricature characters, always a whine in the voice and always amenable to set aside tradition and pride.
WE must always remember and practice Eleh v'elu. These and Those. All of us together. How much better life would be. How much stronger we would be if we were to accept that principle. The bundle which cannot be broken. Rather than remain as separate twigs easily crunched and broken and discarded.
Unfortunately, too many. buy into an outlook of enmity towards us and praise those who kill our children, our elderly, torture our people, viciously rape and burn and slaughter. Here is their outlook.
" Palestinians and Gazans on that day “were able to breathe, they were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was energizing. And if they weren’t exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by this shifting of the balance of power, then they would not be human. I was exhilarated.”
It is particularly bizarre, off putting, most depressing when the creature who voiced that sentiment is forgiven and reinstated to his position within a university classroom. To teach more violence and hate and murder, I could not find a single kernel redeemable within that statement.
When Jews forsake that principle of These and Those, the world follows suit. And why not? When we despise our fellow Jews for whatever reason, we actually encourage the mischaracterization of Jews, and that is most definitely not a heathy situation.
Hollywood has bought into this evil hook, line and sinker, along with all facets of media. Why? In the words of William Goldman, a screenwriter in Hollywood. “Nobody knows anything,” about success in Hollywood. But you have to imagine that somebody, somewhere must have had an inkling about this.
Still, do not understand? You're in good company. Many others do not understand. nor do we like it. Nor do we accept it. Nor should anyone else accept it. Unless and until we fully accept the precept that Ele V'elu, These and Those, and apply it to ourselves and the world, properly, well, we are living that reality, are we not. We must begin with the acceptance of all Jews, welcome them back into the fold, and understand that Judaism is not static. Nor are people. We are all Jews in the same leaky boat and when we and the world understand the goodness behind These and Those, internalize and practice it, well, imagine that! We can then look at and evaluate past, present and future with a better eye and a better result.
-------------------------------------------------------------- Yitzy, sweet boy, in just about two weeks we celebrate Rosh Hashanah. The Jewish New Year. We speak of hope for sweetness and a year of goodness and peace. We look deep within ourselves, seek the good and seek the bad as well, hoping to discard it. We remain deep in thought until we reach Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. A day when we must turn to those we have offended and to God. We need to remember and act upon the principle, that precept, of Ela V'elu, These and Those. A precept which you instinctively by your golden nature knew and practiced. and inspired others to emulate.
We all miss you so, particularly as the holidays approach and as they approach, we pass yet another major holiday bereft of your presence. We feel the deepening shadow of your so untimely death. During the holiday of joy. Hanukkah. May G-d give us strength to hold ourselves together as your first yartzeit approaches. And just as we send you our love, please send yours back to us.
Always and forever. Always
and forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment