We Just Never Learn!
Adapted from Rabbi Braun’s sermon in 5768
- But if you will not listen to me, and will not do all these commandments;
- I also will do this to you; I will appoint over you terror, consumption, and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart; and you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
- And if you will not yet for all this listen to me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
- And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your skies like iron, and your earth like bronze;
- And if you walk contrary to me, and will not listen to me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
- And if you will not be admonished by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me;
- Then will I also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
- And if you will not for all this listen to me, but walk contrary to me;
- Then I will walk contrary to you also in fury….
The question that should pop off the page is – why don’t we learn? Why are we so stubborn and persistent in our foolishness?
The answer is actually to be found in one three letter (Hebrew) word- KERI. That is the word that is used to describe our attitude to God as we continue to disobey him. The English translates it as contrary to God but that is a terrible translation that robs the word of its meaning.
In the commentaries you will find 3 different possibilities:
- Rashbam- we don’t follow God’s commandments because our commitment is only temporary and not permanent and consistent. Keri here means temporary!
- Eben Ezra, in a linguistically challenging piece suggests that keri means our strength- that we rely on our strength too much.
- Rashi and most others- read Keri as chance or coincidence- we see the world’s events as random and not as divinely orchestrated.
Allow me to translate those ideas for a moment.
We don’t learn because:
- We don’t constantly and consistently look to live up to our ideals
- We are arrogant and value our own strength too much.
- We don’t see or look for God’s hand and what God might want.
There are two events currently taking place in Israel that I thought about when I read these pesukim and commentary.
The first is the rumors that Olmert is willing to cede the Golan in a peace deal with Syria. I will leave that for a different time but certainly I ask – will we not learn and I think that each of the reasons that I just listed for why we don’t applies, but that I leave for you to work out.
The second which has bothered and pained me to no end relates to the treatment of a talmid chacham named Rabbi Chaim Druckman.
Chaim Druckman is a widely respected Scholar and sage. He is the Rosh Yeshiva of the the Hesder Yeshiva Ohr Etzion and he is the head Israel’s national conversion authority- appointed to the post by Ariel Sharon. The national conversion authority was created to deal with the massive influx of Jews from The former Soviet Union and Ethiopia.
He has also recently come under attack from the Rabbinical courts of Ashdod and the High Rabbinical court in Israel. A woman converted through his Beit Din was classified by the Ashdod court as a non –Jew as were her children, and thousand of conversions going back to 1999 are now in question. That decision was upheld in the high court.
This past week, Rabbi Druckman was informed by the prime ministers office that he will no longer serve in his capacity as head of the authority because he is turning 75.
What bothers me is not that other rabbis might disagree with Rabbi Druckman on halachik issues. Halachik argument and disagreement is a part of our tradition and testifies to the richness and dynamism of our tradition. The area of conversion and standards and the Jewish status of those from Russia and Ethiopia are complex and fascinating and certainly there is halachik disagreement on some of the issues involved.
What bothers me in the scathing personal nature of the attack. This was not a halachik argument but a viscous attack on Rabbi Druckman person and integrity.
It bothers me that the attack was done in a very public manner.
It bothers me that someone gained political favor with some party or rabbi for dismissing Rabbi Druckman.
It bothers me that a massive desecration of God’s was name was created.
It bothers me that we never learn. Rabbi Akiva’s students died because they did not treat each other with respect, not because they disagreed. Argument is okay and even encouraged, as long as it done with respect. That halacha can be argued, the attack can never be personal.
Why don’t they learn? For the three reasons that I mentioned earlier.
- Righteousness, honesty and respect for humanity are some of Judaism’s ultimate ideals, but some don’t apply them consistently, if at all.
- There is tremendous arrogance – enough to cause one to believe that they have a monopoly on what’s right- so much so that they have no respect for anyone else.
- Some fail to appreciate God’s hand in the world and state of Israel. This is an important idea that needs elaboration but now is not the time.
At the end of the rebuke section God comforts us by saying that at the end after all the punishment and pain, we will not be forsaken. But is that what we are waiting for? I hope not. Rather we need to have our voices heard! We need to publicly proclaim that our Orthodox Judaism is of course absolutely committed to the highest standards of the Halacha while at the same time being equally committed to honesty, integrity and respect for our fellow Jews.
Hopefully by doing so we can undo some of the chillul Hashem that has been perpetrated!
