By Rabbi Aaron I. Reichel, Esq.
The timing of the page of the Talmud we read last Shabbat triggered two related but independent discussions. The first one was based on the fact that the Tochachah, the curses and punishments articulated by Hashem if His laws are not followed, was discussed explicitly in the Daf Yomi on the same day as the Torah reading of Ki Tavo (Chapters 27 and 28 in Devarim).
Somehow, the blessings discussed in the same parashah are less dramatic and controversial. Bad news and bad behavior, it seems, often get more coverage than good news.
In a discussion on the standards of honesty that we should live up to in our business dealings, Rabbi Levy in the Gemara goes so far as to say that robbing an ordinary person is a more severe sin than robbing what is consecrated to G-d! (88b) An abuse of one of the creations of G-d is by definition an abuse of G-d as well.
In a similar but perhaps more unprincipled vein, although it is known that maintaining fair weights and measures is one of the three activities for which the Bible speaks of the reward of long life, this same Rabbi Levy in the Gemara says that the punishment for using false measurements (presumably not just for one customer, but for all customers) is more severe than the punishment for participating in forbidden sexual relations. A whole complicated pilpul follows, but the Talmud eventually comes around to a conclusion that we can all understand. A person who sins by allowing himself to succumb to fleeting physical desires can always repent, whereas the person who intentionally uses false measurements as a regular systematic practice cannot claim falling victim to his passions, and has no possibility of meaningful repentance. This calls to mind the classic story of the rabbi and the pillow.
In the story, a person asked a rabbi how he could make amends for slandering some people. The rabbi told him to bring a pillow stuffed with feathers, and then to puncture the pillow so that all the feathers would blow out by the wind. The rabbi then instructed him to gather up all the feathers and stuff them back in the pillow. This was clearly impossible, as impossible to mend as the merchant who had cheated all his customers with a dishonest scale. How can he possibly repay all his cheated customers?
The connection to our current political climate is unmistakable. One of the elements that distinguishes this election cycle is all the disinformation that is knowingly circulated by the media, which cannot possibly be withdrawn since it is impossible to reach all the affected people. First impressions are always more impactful than later corrections. But the worst part of all the misinformation and outright lies is that the people responsible for circulating them have shown no remorse or interest in withdrawing or correcting it.
While it has always been considered a blessing to live in the United States, lately it can feel more like a curse for a variety of reasons: an intolerable situation which will hopefully be resolved soon.
When it comes to blessings for good behavior (which precedes the Tochachah of curses) comes the politically charged subject of unchecked immigration to the United States through our Southern border.
No one would argue that immigration is a bad thing, yet millions of people believe we should be universally blessed with unrestrained immigration based on their advocating for completely open borders, welcoming new immigrants and offering an immediate path to citizenship for every migrant from every country in the world, including those from terrorist states, those with communicable diseases, and those with criminal records or terrorist affiliations.
On the other hand, millions of people with the best of intentions believe just as strongly that they should be just as universally blessed for pointing out that we have a shortage of hospitals and medical professionals at the present, let alone housing and social services, not to mention Social Security, funded and subsidized by the citizens constituting, such that, should the current trend continue, Americans will have unintentionally caused the migrants to become sorely disappointed and underserved, and many citizens and non-citizens may be forced to disobey laws now on the books just for their very survival.
In the coming year, may we all be found worthy of Heavenly blessings so that we can find ways to accommodate as many potential citizens as possible in a reasonable, orderly, considerate, and human way without causing a breakdown of society as we know it. n
Rabbi Aaron I. Reichel, Esq., is a rabbi, attorney, author, and editor of many books, most notably, “Step Up to the Plate: Baseball and Judaism: How to Win the Game of Life” (Kodesh Press, 2017) and “The Maverick Rabbi.” He primarily writes biographies of men of action.
