Advice to Graduates

           Shimon, the son of Gamliel, thought hard.  When asked this question he could not help but search through years of lessons, discussions, and arguments.  “Sometimes,” he reflected, “they embraced each other; other times they stormed off in a discernable anger.”  He saw the greatest scholars of all time scratch their heads in wonder.  And now here he was being asked the question, “What is the greatest truth that you know?”

Shimon understood, after all the learning he had been exposed to, that this was the hardest question he had ever been asked.  Slowly, Shimon opened his mouth.  “All my life I have been raised with Sages.  What I have learned is that the best to learning the truth is silence.  When I am quiet and do not rush to make others hear my opinions I am free to hear the full story first.”

They nodded, listening.

Shimon drew in a breath and continued.  “Practice is more important than study.  After all, you can memorize facts galore but what a person does is more important than what he knows or says.”

A cool breeze blew through the orchard as if agreeing with the young scholar.  No sound was heard as Shimon continued.  “One who speaks too much brings sin into the world.”

Shimon, son of Gamliel, really lived in Israel two thousand years ago.  These words were actually spoken by him.  He said three things that I want the graduating class of any time or year to absorb.

1. Listen.  Do not make snap judgements.  If you are too busy speaking or contemplating what you will next say your mind will not be open to what is being uttered by others.

2. Be good.  Do good.  Words are cheap.  They can be spewed forth and be meaningless.  If you really want to make a difference in the world, follow the mitzvot.  Be a Jew.

3. If you prattle on and just let words gush out, sooner (rather than later), you will hurt someone.  It is so easy to wound another by careless words.  Think first.

Now make these words and truths yours and we will always be proud of you.

Rabbi Jonathan Case

Babble

Everyone on earth had the same language and the same words.  And as they migrated from the east, they came to a valley in the land of Shinar and settled….  They said one to another, “Come let us build a city and a tower with its top in the sky…”                  Genesis Chapter 11

What was the point in building the Tower of Babel?  Why was G-d so angry at their efforts?  Coming just after the episode of the Flood, the reader now sees a universe bent on the unified theme of building a massive tower.

Rashi asks: “The same language and the same words?”  Why is this such a problem?  Isn’t this what the Lord wants of us?  To be unified in mind and purpose?  Yes, the Master answers, but not now; in the messianic era.  We are not yet prepared for such goodness.  While we are still misguided and often debase human values and people we need dissenters.  We require those who provide differing views making us question the correctness of our attitudes. 

That is why the punishment for the people of Babel is proportionate to their wrongdoing.  As a result of the sin of the Tower, they were denied the ability to speak and be understood.  In this way, they were directed to question authority.  Perhaps, say the ancient sage, evil is when all people agree.

In our own families, businesses, and communities we need to continually learn and grow.  Leadership decisions need to be questioned and debated.  Have we done well?  Or have we been dealing with only portions of needed information?  Have we conducted our business fairly and honestly?  Or have we been fearful of disagreement and shunned alternative opinions?

Babble and Babel

This spring brings several films out of Hollywood detailing ancient events from the pages of the Bible.  Notable among them is the new epic of the Flood.  Apparently, not many regular Bible readers were familiar with the real story.  It was reported that many viewers were horrified to find that Noah gets stoned drunk after the deluge.  They were surprised that this exactly what happens in the text. 

Let’s look at Hollywood’s next major feature.  Coming right after the Flood it tells of the great tower reaching to heaven, Babel.  Here is the basic terse, tale:

Everyone on earth had the same language and the same words.  And as they migrated from the east, they came to a valley in the land of Shinar and settled….  They said one to another; “Come let us build a city and a tower with its top in the sky…”               Genesis Chapter 11

What was the point in building the Tower of Babel?  Why was God so angry at their efforts?  Coming just after the episode of the Flood, the reader now sees a universe bent on the unified theme of building a massive tower.  Is this not a good thing especially coming after a time when humanity was so fragmented that they cared little for one another making God despair over His creation?  They were working together, as one.

Rashi asks: “The same language and the same words?”  Why is this a problem?  Isn’t this what the Lord wants of us?  To be unified in mind and purpose?  Yes, the Master answers, but not now; in the messianic era.  We are not yet prepared for such goodness.  While we are still misguided and often debase human values and people we need dissenters.  We require those who provide differing views making us question the correctness of our attitudes. 

That is why the punishment for the people of Babel is proportionate to their wrongdoing.  As a result of the sin of the Tower, they were denied the ability to speak and be understood.  In this way, they were directed to question authority.  Perhaps, says the ancient sage, evil is when all people agree.

I fear civilizations that walk in lock step.  It smacks too much of authoritarianism which oppresses its members and outliers. It also reminds me of Nazi Germany when acting in uniformity was the ideal and questioning authority was effectively eradicated.  That too was a Tower of Babel.

As the Jewish community of greater Columbia we walk a fine line.  As a community we search and argue.  We fund raise for various items we deem necessary.  Is one more important than the next?  Leadership decisions have been questioned and fiercely debated.  Have we done well?  Or have we been dealing with only portions of needed information?  Have we conducted our business fairly and honestly?  Or have we been fearful of disagreement and shunned alternative opinions?  These are vital questions that require sincere inner ongoing searching.

It is not God we debate or the primacy of faith in our lives.  This is the glue that holds us together.  Instead, we vigorously argue to find the answer to the question, “What does God expect of me?”  Sometimes the response will be clear while other times, opaque.  Yet we need arguments, disparate opinions, for God’s sake.  That is because each person’s ultimate path is unique.  When voices of dissent can be heard we will be ready to build to the Tower of Babel -- although once at that point it will no longer be necessary to storm heaven as we will have already conquered our greatest nemesis: us.