Skip to main content

Thought for the Day: The Real -- that is, Torah -- Golden Rule

I have read enough science fiction and seen enough horror films to have been really worried in recent days about an alien invasion. Anyone who has seen Westworld or Invasion of the Body Snatchers knows very well that an alien invasion can start with creatures who look very human, but they always have one give-away "tell". In this case, I have noticed quite a few very human looking creatures... but to the observant, paranoid, science nerd they made one glaring mistake in their charade: Everyone knows that human breathe through the nose and mouth. These creatures largely breathe through their chins, many have noses that are nothing more than clever camouflage. Some even breathe through their elbows! My evidence? Their mask usage.

Then I thought their might be another explanation.

They -- the "veldt" -- has what they call the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. So inspirational! Our sages said something similar -- That which is hateful to you, don't do to your fellow (Shabbos 31a). Gawrsh.... it's ok, I guess... but why so negative? Basically the same thing, but just in the negative; you know how Jews are.

That's they way I always had heard it presented. Seems strange, though, that one of the greatest of our sages -- Hillel the Elder -- could not think of a better way to express "the whole of Torah." As it turns out, the Golden Rule ain't so golden; kinda manipulative and selfish, actually.  And Hillel wasn't telling us how to get along with other people, he was actually expressing our mission statement in the most actionable way possible.

Let's start with the so called "Golden" rule. Who is the focus of that statement? That's right, it you. The statement has the same semantic content as: I wanted to be treated nicely, so to get what I want -- which is to be treated nicely -- I'll treat you nicely. Their "Golden" rule is not altruistic, it's selfish. Let's say, for example, that I am (in my mind) not at risk for Covid-19; I am young and healthy, after all. Shoot... then I don't need to wear a mask! Why should I wear a mask? It's uncomfortable and I don't need you to wear a mask. Since I am only doing unto other what I care if they do to me; I can just bag the whole mask thing. I only care about me, and I am fine; so I don't need to even feign concern for you.

Hillel's statement, on the other hand, challenges you to take your own experiences and turn them into sensitivity and caring for others. Hillel says: take the hurt from your own experiences and turn that into sensitivity to help others. Our same fellow above now says to himself, "Yikes! I'd hate to even be put at risk for catching Covid-19; I am certainly going to wear a properly fitting mask to be sure I don't put anyone else at risk!" My experiences become the lessons I need to learn how to treat others.

Ah, so they aren't aliens... they just don't care. I guess we should call this epoch: Invasion of the Goyishe Kohps.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thought for the Day: Pizza, Uncrustables, and Stuff -- What Bracha?

Many years ago (in fact, more than two decades ago), I called R' Fuerst from my desk at work as I sat down to lunch.  I had a piece of (quite delicious) homemade pizza for lunch.  I nearly always eat at my desk as I am working (or writing TftD...), so my lunch at work cannot in any way be considered as sitting down to a formal meal; aka קביעת סעודה.  That being the case, I wasn't sure whether to wash, say ha'motzi, and bentch; or was the pizza downgraded to a m'zonos.  He told if it was a snack, then it's m'zonos; if a meal the ha'motzi.  Which what I have always done since then.  I recently found out how/why that works. The Shulchan Aruch, 168:17 discusses פשטיד''א, which is describes as a baked dough with meat or fish or cheese.  In other words: pizza.  Note: while the dough doesn't not need to be baked together with the meat/fish/cheese, it is  required that they dough was baked with the intention of making this concoction. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thought for the Day: Yetzer HaRa -- Spiritual Force of Tuma vs Physical Ta'avos

In any project planning, there are two basic approaches: top down and bottom up.  Top down starts with describing what you want done at the highest level that seems reasonable.  You then break that down into a list of things that are smaller in scope (they only accomplish part of the job) and are therefore easier to actually accomplish.  That process can is then repeated with each sub-project.  Each iteration produces a new set of smaller projects.  For any of the projects, the level above provides the "why" for the project of interest, and the projects below provide the "how" for the current project.  Bottom up starts, as it's name suggests, from the lowest level -- here is stuff I know I can do, and proceeds by asking "what can I do by putting this stuff together?" For example, I have a project to slake my thirst.  Top down would start by a requirement to get a cool drink into a container from which I can drink.  That breaks down into: (1) fin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thought for the Day: Why Halacha Has "b'di'avad"

There was this Jew who knew every "b'di'avad" (aka, "Biddy Eved", the old spinster librarian) in the book.  When ever he was called on something, his reply was invariably, "biddy eved, it's fine".  When he finally left this world and was welcomed to Olam Haba, he was shown to a little, damp closet with a bare 40W bulb hanging from the ceiling.  He couldn't believe his eyes and said in astonishment, "This is Olam Haba!?!"  "Yes, Reb Biddy Eved,  for you this is Olam Haba." b'di'avad gets used like that; f you don't feel like doing something the best way, do it the next (or less) best way.  But Chazal tell us that "kol ha'omer HaShem vatran, m'vater al chayav" -- anyone who thinks HaShem gives partial credit is fooling himself to death (free translation.  Ok, really, really free translation; but its still true).  HaShem created us and this entire reality for one and only one purpose: for use...
Post a Comment
Read more