integrity matters – The Tree of Life

Pick a Word, Not a Fight

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”

– Proverbs 25:11, JPS

Raise me up above my thoughts, so that I do not equate ideas with personhood. We are more than our beliefs, ideologies and political views. Perhaps, if more of us realized this, rather than falling prey to the unspoken adage, “the personal is political,” the world would be less divisive. A word well-chosen is better than an onslaught of personal opinions, or flow of ideological ideas. A barrage of convictions held, delivered as a statement of faith, may truly get the point across to another person who holds different views; however, this does no make for good conversation, nor bridging the divide between the entrenched positions have lurking below their personas.

I, myself, and included as one who needs to hear these words, written partly from personal experience, as well as from an understanding gained through what others have recommended for the sake of conversations. Meeting another person where he or she is at is crucial. Although, sometimes, I have to backtrack in a conversation, and explain directly that I’d rather learn more about the other person’s viewpoints than espouse my own, I am making my way closer the better conversation. Sometimes silence for the sake of peace is the best remedy.

Yet, when, it is more a matter of defending truth, especially that of the existence of G-d and the authority of scripture, as well as the actuality of Biblical events, like the revelation on Mount Sinai, I can hardly keep silent. For the sake of conscience, I must speak my mind, as well as a deterrent against being influenced by the words of others, intended to undermine my own faith. Yet, can I do any of this with a smile on my face, and compassion in my heart toward the other? It is challenging to maintain a balanced approach to open and honest communication, for sure.

The Cost of Freedom

weekly Torah reading: parasha Re’eh 5783

“And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the L-RD thy G-d redeemed thee.” – Deuteronomy 15:15-18, JPS 1917 Tanach

Because the Israelites were taken out of Egypt, having been freed from slavery, we are no longer meant to be slaves in perpetuity. Yet, certain circumstances would lead to a Jewish person having to sell himself as a servant to another person. This included when a thief was unable to make good on a return of the items, monetarily that he had stolen.

And, so, the midrash addresses this circumstance: “the ear which had heard G-d say at Mount Sinai: ‘do not steal,’ and which had heard G-d say: ‘the Children of Israel are My slaves,’ needs to be reminded of this by being pierced after having opted to ignore both of these statements by G-d” (Chizkuni on Deuteronomy 15:17, citing Rashi; sefaria.org).

In other words, it is an insult to G-d as well as oneself, to disregard the status given to us at Sinai, via the covenant. G-d’s people are meant to serve Him; we should not forsake that priority, by serving another. Even so, we should not enslave ourselves to anything, that would deprive of us serving G-d, by way of the commandments.

To voluntarily choose a life that is devoid of acknowledging the One Who brought us out of bondage, is to forsake the purpose of our freedom. Unless careful consideration is given to the reason that G-d brought us out of Egypt, we will not have the full picture.

According to chazal (the sages), after being freed from physical bondage, G-d gave us the Torah, so that we would have a moral compass, in our lives, in order to prevent us from enslavement to sin. Therefore, by serving G-d, we are able to transcend our lower inclinations, that would otherwise compel us to stray from our pursuit of righteousness.

Today, the compass spins wildly in society, with no steady direction. Now, more than ever, the imperative to remain on a steady course is essential. When we pray, we pray to the East, toward Yerushalayim. When we lift our hearts to our Father in Heaven, we may also cast our eyes toward things Above.

Our freedom to worship, to speak with integrity, and promote the values that we uphold shall not be infringed upon. And, most of all, our conscience must remain free. The narrative norm sweeping the West is meant to undermine traditional religious beliefs and values. It is better to be a servant of G-d, than to be slave to the mentality of an ideology that seeks to have all conform.

Woke Dynamics

Religious Parallels:

Religion contains the opportunity to recognize sin, through a careful examination of the heart; upon doing so, an individual can be reconciled to G-d, by confessing those sins. Wokism has defined its own version of sins, through a social justice framework. By way of coercion, a person may be brought to confess his or her so-called sins.

In order to better recognize this parallel within the Woke system, it is helpful to look at the specific elements that contribute to this dynamic. Generally, cancel culture is relentless, and does not give opportunity to confess; typically, there is no allowance for mercy and compassion; rather, only judgment and condemnation.

Yet, calling out another person’s microaggression, can require that person to publicly confess, wherein there is a type of confession made for the “sin” of microaggression. That person, as a result of the confession, is then figuratively reinstated to the good graces of the community wherein the microaggression was committed.

1). it reinforces the system, wherein blame is placed upon an individual regardless of intent 2). confession is an admittance of guilt, whether or not the statement condemned as a microaggression was intended as a slight or not. 3). the process actively engages the so-called culprit of the microaggression to be further indoctrinated into the overall system. 4). accusing someone of a microaggression can lead to censorship of that person’s speech.

Any allowance for redress within the Woke system is nil. The opportunity for discussion about the issues at hand does not exist, because the Woke always reason that they hold the moral position, based upon their set of rules.

Extracting a confession brings the condemned person over to the other side, absolving him or her of his so-called sin. An effort may be made to bring the individual into further alignment with the ideology.

As a result of a foot-in-the-door tactic, a confession allows for entrance into that person’s psyche. Woke pseudo-moralism is intrusive; understanding the dynamic behind the language is key, so as to not fall prey to its influence.

post Shavuot reflection 5783

As we descend from Sinai, after the receiving of the Torah anew in our lives, may we be compelled to reflect upon our experience, and bring the light and wisdom of the Torah forward with us day by day.

May H’Shem grant us the discernment to apply these teachings to our everyday challenges, and spread the light throughout the mundane as well as the sacred times. That all truth may flourish above and beyond the lies.

Seek to Mend

“With righteousness shall you judge your fellow.”

– Leviticus 19:15

Up until recently, I did not realize that to give another person “the benefit of the doubt” was actually akin to a Torah precept (Rashi; Shevuos 30a). Yet, there can be no mistake, that this should be the prevailing attitude of one human being toward another, in order for the world to spin harmoniously upon its axis. If not, well, case in point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the world would suddenly spin slightly off its axis, based upon what is happening in this country, and all around the globe.

The Torah compels us to judge others favorably, since we ourselves are not impartial, namely, because of the human tendency to be critical of other people’s behavior and lacking in discernment towards our own behavior. Thus, we need to work against the negative inclination to judge others wrongly, by giving them the benefit of the doubt. This is all the more important within the framework of the overall climate of cancel culture that is potentially able to become the normative mode of “communicating” with others, based on our own narcissistic pride and glory in ourselves, on one hand, and superficial virtue signaling on the other hand.

Yet, putting other people down by “calling them out” on perceived injustices, moral flaws, or lack of tolerance, in order to make ourselves feel superior is a deadly trap for the soul. Thus, we would be better off by showing true compassion toward everyone, regardless of our slanted accusations that would otherwise roll off the tongue, past the teeth, and out into the space between us and others, whether in-person, or through social media. G-d help us to make amends for the damage that we may have already done. In our lives, we should seek to redress the wounds of society, only by beginning with ourselves.

Omer: Day 9 Gevurah: The Restraint of Might

gevurah shebbe gevurah- restraint of might

The strength of gevurah relies on the ability to restrain oneself. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Restraint of ourselves is key, not only for the benefit of our soul, also for the sake of being in a position to offer diplomatic relations to those who enter into conflict with us.

Another effective saying to keep in mind is that “he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife” (Proverbs 15:18). We would do well to learn from the wise words of King Solomon, for our hearts are heavy with the burdens we face; yet, too often, we are tempted to respond to others in a reactive way, rather in a manner of restraint.

If I may further explain, by way of a concrete example too rampant today. We, ourselves, might have fallen prey to the divisiveness that permeates society, dividing people into subgroups of us and them; the bitterness that festers as a result of demonizing the other, will only further the perpetuation of the lack of harmony in our lives, especially when our thoughts and rhetoric approaches the vitriolic.

Furthermore, the critical nature of the human heart, has the potential to fuel cancel culture, and further the categorization of classes of people in society into the oppressed and the oppressors, increasingly demonizing through generalizations. This is the result of permitting tyranny to rule the heart (G-d forbid).

Our Responsibility to the Next Generation

“And these words which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.”

– Deuteronomy 6:6-7

The future will be decided by the values, attitudes, and beliefs that the next generation upholds. If we permit ourselves to take a casual stance, in regard to how the younger generation is being taught in the public education system, than we consign even our own children to the whims of the zeitgeist, unless we educate them ourselves. Moreover, we should attempt to foster the moral values, that are being diminished in the eyes of the youth, by making an effort to raise awareness, and educate those who are being led astray.

The moral values that we uphold should be passed on to our children, as per the wisdom of instilling these values in them, so that they will go in the way of their heritage, and not depart from those ways (see Proverb 22:6). Yet, the effort being made by the indoctrination of youth into Woke ideology in the educational systems, is competing for the souls of children, whose minds are pliable. Unless they are taught the morality that has shaped the bedrock of Western civilization, they will know of no other truths, other than what they are taught by a system that attempts to usurp the truth, morality, and ethics of Judeo-Christian belief, as well as classical antiquity.

The values being instilled in the current generation will shape society down the road, more readily than is already happening today, as a result of the cultural revolution. The stance of any individual concerned for the future, must not be complacent. Consider the ramifications of Vladimir Lenin’s remark, “Give me four years to teach the children, and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” This is what we have to contend with, before it is too late.