Must a state hold its standards higher than the that of her citizens? Let us use moral tolerance as an example. With respect to moral tolerance there are many levels of acceptance. Every person, every family, every community have their levels of tolerance for what types of behavior are acceptable and which are not. Must the State maintain a higher level of what is tolerable than the individual or should be there be no difference. Should the State have a higher bar than the individual?
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, HaShem’s attention is turned to the metropolis of Sodom. HaShem reports to Avrahum “The cries of Sodom and Amora are many and their sins are heavy. I will go down to inspect if the cries (of the victims) are justified and if they are, I will bring justice.” In the Sodomite society it was considered a capital crime to help the indigent – cruelty was condoned and promoted by the society. They were very principled in the belief that ‘what is mine is mine and what is yours is yours’. To support another person who was in need was morally wrong and therefore punishable by death. We need to wonder how does a society become so cruel? If I wish to be generous why should I be punished for it?
In Pirkei Avos, a Mishnaic collection of moral lessons, the mishna teaches as follows. ‘There are four types of relationships that people have towards their money. The one who says what is mine is yours and what is yours is yours – this is the path of the righteous. The one who says what is mine is mine and what is yours is mine – this is the path of the wicked. The one who says what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine – this is the path of the fool. The one who says what is mine is mine and what is yours is yours – this is the path of the ordinary person and some suggest that this is the way of Sodom.’
Behold, the mishna identifies the origin from where the cruelty of Sodom came. It came from the State adopting a path that is acceptable for the individual! There is nothing unhealthy with adopting the path of the ordinary person. However, when the State sanctions that path as being the path of Society it will become pathologically cruel before long. Why?
As long as society recognizes that giving charity is admirable then it will be a benevolent society even if many people are not benevolent. This is because there is a societal consciousness and members of the society recognize charitable giving as admirable. However, once the state adopts the position that everyone is entitled only to their own money and their own resources exclusively and not to anybody else’s then benevolence has been purged from society, benevolence will become politically incorrect and before long it will become a capital crime.
How fortunate we, the Jewish people are, to have our own society where HaShem’s values are cherished. Even if we do not live up to all of them perfectly, we nonetheless recognize their proper value.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind