Miller’s Musings Parshas Ki Sovoh
One aspect of the questioning of Judaism that has always
puzzled me, is the question of how Judaism’s picture of G-d matches with the
terrible tragedies that occur all too often and the dark history that has
plagued the Jewish people almost continuously throughout its journey from Sinai
to the present day. It is not to say
that I, or anyone else, can give reasons why awful misfortunes befall people. But
to say it is incompatible with the Jewish viewpoint is to ignore this week’s
Parsha, which explicitly warns of horrific consequences that can take place,
not withstanding our definition of Hashem as the Ultimate Benevolent Good.
What is worth asking however is why in the middle of a
description of all the catastrophes the Jewish people could experience, the
Torah then incorporates into it the fact that the Jewish people will assimilate
with their neighbours and serve idols.
Surely this is better placed within the list of indiscretions, not as
part of the aftermath of said transgressions?
To understand this the Abarbanel explains that although to
begin with the sin of idol worship will be one committed voluntarily, in due
course the exile would lead them into situations in which they will be forced
to commit idol worship, something which in itself is reparation for the
iniquities of the nation.
I believe this can be understood on two levels with two very
different messages for us. The first is
to understand this coercion by the nations to follow their beliefs, as a lack
of freedom towards the Jewish people, which is itself the retribution. The
message here is to appreciate the civil liberties we all take for granted in
this moment in history and to never forget how often in our past this was far
from being the case.
The second is to appreciate that any act that contravenes the
laws of the Torah is by its very definition harmful and damaging for us. To perform this act, even when forced to do
so, is still something that will ultimately be in some way damaging to
ourselves and is considered a penalty for our misdeeds. There is a tendency for people to look at the
restrictions placed upon us as a hardship and a constraining of our lives within
strict parameters that limit the good we can participate in. We must remind ourselves that anything deemed
unworthy of our role as Jews is something that is forbidden solely for our own
good, to help us reach the purest good achievable.
May our Shabbos be one of abundant appreciation of the good
we are given.
L’ilui
Nishmas Leah bas Avrohom
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