Parashat Vayera: Solidarity with Israel Shabbat

(A Torah study led by Rabbi J.B. Sacks, November 4, 2023)

Now more than ever, in the wake of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and in the midst of a war that may be protracted and one that we hope will not escalate into something more regional, we are all aware of our mortality, our personal mortality, our collective mortality, our corporate mortality, our Jewish mortality–here, there, and everywhere.

With this reality, I found myself turning to the Mishnah on your handout, to seek its wisdom during these times, to understand what has happened and, perhaps more importantly, to seek out the posture and direction we might assume. It may be hard to see the structure of this Mishnah, particularly in the English, but it comprises Ten Statements, a rabbinic Aseret HaDib’rot. The first nine all follow the same formula, marbeh x, then marbeh y, that is, the more of one thing, the more of something that will follow in its wake. Let’s read it:

הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר,

מַרְבֶּה בָשָׂר, מַרְבֶּה רִמָּה.

מַרְבֶּה נְכָסִים, מַרְבֶּה דְאָגָה.

מַרְבֶּה נָשִׁים, מַרְבֶּה כְשָׁפִים.

מַרְבֶּה שְׁפָחוֹת, מַרְבֶּה זִמָּה.

מַרְבֶּה עֲבָדִים, מַרְבֶּה גָזֵל.

מַרְבֶּה תוֹרָה, מַרְבֶּה חַיִּים.

מַרְבֶּה יְשִׁיבָה, מַרְבֶּה חָכְמָה.

מַרְבֶּה עֵצָה, מַרְבֶּה תְבוּנָה.

מַרְבֶּה צְדָקָה, מַרְבֶּה שָׁלוֹם.

קָנָה שֵׁם טוֹב, קָנָה לְעַצְמוֹ.

קָנָה לוֹ דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה, קָנָה לוֹ חַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:

Another favorite teaching of his:

The more flesh, the more worms;

The more possessions, the more worries;

The more wives, the more witchcraft;

The more female slaves, the more lewdness;

The more slaves, the more robbery;

The more Torah, the more life;

The more sitting, the more wisdom;

The more counsel/advice, the more understanding;

The more good deeds, the more peace.

The acquisition of a good reputation brings personal gain,

but the one who has acquired Torah, has acquired eternal life.

DISCUSSION:

Of these nine statements, the first five point out negative consequences of negative reactions; while the final four of this genre are positive.

PLEASE CONSIDER:

• Why might the Mishnah list more negative than positive items?

I want to highlight the first of the negative items..

PLEASE CONSIDER:

• How does this item–the idea, and the wording used here–strike you?

What I learn from this is that, rightly or wrongly–but quite naturally–our minds often race to and focus on the negative: the horror of October 7, the anguish, the grief, and the possible dire consequences of any protracted war. So the MIshnah reminds us that the more flesh, the more death, then the more worms. The result of death is grief and sadness and the waste of life. No one on any side of the conflict should want this.

So let us now focus our energies on the positive side of the ledger, the next four items on the MIshnah’s list.

PLEASE CONSIDER:

• How do you react to this list of positive items?
• Does it in any way seem to respond to the list of negative items?
• Do you detect any intention in the ordering of these items?

To me, the Mishnah begins this section with a generality: If we act out of a Torah perspective, we will increase life. The impulse to respond in whatever way Israel does and does not do is surely justified–to respond to horrific acts of terror and to try to eradicate the possibility of an October 7 ever occurring again. But, in assessing this, we must hope they will consider–for the sake not only of innocent Palestinians but for our Israeli sisters and brothers, will it promote life? It is not a simple or easy question, but it must be asked and considered. It is also the question we must ask ourselves about the conversations we will have with Jews less connected to Israel than you and I are, and with non-Jews who may not understand our connection to Israel.

So immediately following the text states, marbeh y’shivah, marbeh choch-mah, the more sitting, the more wisdom. This tells me two things: Sitting on something gives us time to process our feelings, so that when we do speak and act, it will be coming from a better, purer place, one that promotes life and goodness. That is certainly one goal of this Solidarity Shabbat.

That leads to the third piece of advice, once we have processed our thoughts, we should seek out ideas, counsel and wisdom from others. We all have a lot to think about; others’ perspectives will surely be helpful.

The last of these “the more x, the more y” lines is the more tz’dakah, the more shalom.

We are used to thinking of tz’dakah as “philanthropy,” the giving of resources. And this is the time for us to do what we can in giving to worthy organizations that will help Israel at this time and through this time and for the ongoing needs after the war ends.

But tz’dakah has other meanings. The biblical root is related to “truthfulness” and to “clarity.” We’ll need to be truthful in discovering and discussing facts, and Israel will need to gain clarity about what’s in her best interests not only in the moment, but long-term.

Moreover, tz’dakah means “righteous behavior” and a “righteous attitude.” We need to bring that up from our souls so that we can navigate this with our unconnected Jewish family and friends, as well as with our non-Jewish associates. The word also means “justice, the just thing.” This means Israel and us need to be concerned about innocents.

May we share the truth of Israel’s cause with others.

May we who love Israel remain clear as we proceed not just to love her but to support her.

May we balance the need to loosen Hamas’ power and grip with the humanity of Palestinians.

May we be guided not only by the exigencies of the moment, but of our vision of an Israel–and a world–living not only in peace, but in justice and in righteousness.

And, as the Mishnah suggests, may this accrue to the reputation of our character and the earning of our place in the world to come. Amen.