blogs/rabbi-huberman

Judaism and the American Dream #446

Judaism and the American Dream
 
If there was a list of expressions least heard in a Jewish home, the following would likely top that list.
 
"Young man, go to your room and read your Bible."
 
It's not something we say to our children, in part because Judaism raises many red flags when it comes to our children going off and studying scripture in solitude. Instead, we want our children to develop their values within a communal environment, which is why Judaism places such an emphasis on attending Hebrew school.
 
In fact, our tradition teaches that is forbidden for a young person to isolate him - or herself while studying Torah. Sages tell us that young people who study texts on their own are more prone to drift towards zealotry and fundamentalism.
 
We only have to look at the rise of organizations like ISIS to see how easily the minds of young people can be corrupted by single mindedness.
 
Judaism is a belief system which thrives upon the viewpoints of many. Jewish thought demands that the beliefs of any one person must, in order to become fully realized, must be exposed to the truths of others. As such, it is best to study Torah, Talmud, and other texts with a partner who forces us to defend our beliefs and suppositions.
 
In so doing, our views of the world become more rounded, and we learn to respect others.
 
This week's Torah portion, Shemini, then, is particularly interesting, as it inspires us to tackle the question, "How do we maintain our individuality within Judaism while respecting its communal and historical character?"
 
Should we go off and "do Judaism" on our own?
 
The Torah portion begins this week by describing in great detail the rituals which surrounded the moveable ark which housed the Ten Commandments. But then then we segue into an odd incident involving Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron, the head priest.
 
Nadav and Avihu burst upon the scene, and begin performing a series of "alien" rituals. They bring their own fire pans and incense, and they draw upon a flame from an outside source. God strikes them down.
 
Over the centuries, Sages have debated why Nadav and Avihu had to die. Some conclude that the brothers were drunk. Others claim that the two couldn't wait for the older generation to expire, so they decided to begin their own religious movement.
 
But many rabbis studying this incident conclude that although Nadav and Avihu were no doubt spiritual in nature, they were too focused on their own religious high, without paying attention to the borders of the Jewish practice.
 
The rabbis' conclusion may seem counter-intuitive, because these days, virtually every aspect of classic Judaism seems to be up for review. Often, we demand that aspects of Jewish tradition be personally relevant before we agree to practice them.
 
In spite of that trend, our Sages' teachings still inspire us to ponder how we can embrace and encourage Jewish individuality, while retaining many aspects of our sacred and sustaining three-thousand-year-old tradition.
 
Judaism teaches us through both daily practice, and observance of holidays and Shabbat, the value of freedom, charity, selflessness and communal obligation.
 
Indeed, modern society endorses the right for each of us to reach our full potential. We call this the American Dream.
 
Yet this week's Torah portion encourages us to take our foot off the gas pedal, just a little. It reminds us that, while personal growth and spiritual realization are vital, this quest should be tethered to the collective wisdom of tradition and practice.
 
Nadav and Avihu did not understand the value of the collective. While in many ways their sense of individuality should be applauded, their lack of respect for tradition and communal structure, say our Sages, needs to be studied more closely.
 
The great eighteenth-century philosopher David Hume wrote that there are two ways in which religion can go wrong: through superstition and through enthusiasm.
 
Hume noted that the enthusiast, entering a state of religious rapture, begins to believe that he or she is being inspired directly by God, and then forgets about reason and restraint."Rules and regulations, thinks the enthusiast, are for ordinary people, not for us," he said.
This unbridled individuality, he argues, affects the ability of a society to unite towards common good.
 
Similarly, former British chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes, "Individual happiness and the survival of civilization depend on striking a delicate balance between the two."
 
Pursuit of the American dream is one of our country's most cherished and important values. It encourages use to embrace our personal freedom in order to achieve our personal potential.
 
But the value of community structure must be placed at least as high. In spite of all the pressures within modern American society to highlight ourselves, let us never forget the enriching and redeeming value of Jewish tradition. Judaism teaches that achieving a balanced spiritual life involves combining our individual gifts as we work with God to perfect an imperfect world.
 
Let us never forget, either, the central fire which collectively sustains us. Whether through the study of Torah, the adoption of a political view, or the pursuit of the American Dream, we need family, community, and tradition to help ground us.
 
This is a frenzied age. We all have moments - as individuals, as communities, as a nation - that entice us to retract from life. But let us resist the urge to venture into life alone.
 
In spite of all the influences which surround us, we need community  today more than ever.
 
For it is our friends, family and community which challenge us most, and in the end make us whole.
 
Shabbat shalom, v'kol tuv, (with all goodness)
 
Rabbi Irwin Huberman