Rabbi David E. Ostrich, Congregation Brit Shalom
Clergy Column for The Centre Daily Times
Published November 17, 2024
The recent election did not resolve our society’s polarization. One side is celebrating, while the other side is mourning. One side is thinking, “Finally, somebody will do things right,” while the other side is full of anxiety about what is to come.
It may be premature to try to counsel either side. Celebrations can be good for the soul. And anxiety is often the universe’s way of telling us that we need to be careful. But more important than who won and who lost is the fact that we still have a lot of work to do. Regardless of who is in office, God is depending on us to make things better (Tikkun Olam). What makes us great is how well we serve as God’s agents in the world.
One of the interesting things about politics is that God’s work can be done in a variety of different ways. The poor can be helped through government programs or with private charity and free market opportunity. We can argue all day about the techniques and policies, but the Divine imperative is that the poor be helped. The same can be said for justice. There are all sorts of theories about the best way to police or punish/rehabilitate. There are all sorts of opinions about the causes and prevention of crime—and about the ways the laws are interpreted. But however we accomplish it, the Divine command is that we pursue justice.
We are, of course, focusing on own our times and challenges, but God’s perspective is far greater. I can imagine God up in Heaven, sitting on the Throne of Divine Justice and Mercy and thinking of all the generations who have come before us and who have had their turns to be God’s agents in the world—to be blessings. Fortunately, much of the wisdom they learned from the challenges of self-government is inscribed in the Bible, and I would imagine that God is hoping for us to pay attention. Regardless of our political party, let us consider some of God’s goals for every government and every citizen.
DEUTERONOMY 17.14-20:
“If, after you have entered the land that the Lord your God has assigned to you, you decide, ‘I will set a king over me, as do all the nations about me,’ you shall be free to set a king over yourself…When he is seated on his royal throne, he shall have a copy of this Torah… and let him read in it all his life, so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God, to observe faithfully …these laws. Thus, he will not act haughtily toward his fellows or deviate from the Instruction… to the right or to the left…”
DEUTERONOMY 16.18-20:
“You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes… and they shall govern the people with due justice. You shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just. Justice, justice shall you pursue…”
LEVITICUS 19.15-18:
“You shall not pervert justice; you shall favor neither the poor nor the rich, but with justice shall you judge My people…you shall not hate your fellow in your heart…you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we have a hard time figuring out exactly what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself,” the ancient sage Hillel gives this practical advice: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” (Talmud Shabbat 31a)
One final ancient bit of advice—also from Hille—is about how we allocate our personal and national resources. “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? But, if I am only for myself, what am I? And, if not now, when?” (Mishna Avot 1.14) We need to take care of ourselves, but we also need to help others. Let us not forget both sides of this holy balance.
Like I said, God must be up there, sitting on the Heavenly Throne and wondering how this new crop of leaders will do. Regardless of what they call themselves or what approaches they use, will they pursue justice and mercy? Will they follow My holy advice?