I’ll be honest. I’m hoping that in a week from now we will be living in a calmer society.
The political season brings with it much admirable emotions. The passion citizens have for their country. The values they hold dear. The devotion to volunteer for important causes.
But, I would need to have my head in the sand to ignore the detrimental effect it also has on our society. Politics is a nasty game. So much of it has become about putting down other people. It’s hard to avoid the insults. Our headspace is invaded by endless negativity and personal attacks.
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Chassidim often share the following anecdote:
As a small child, Reb Zalman Aharon (the “Raza”), the older brother of Rebbe Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch (the “Rashab”), often complained that he was noticeably shorter than his younger brother.
One day, the Raza sneaked up behind his brother and pushed him lightly into a small ditch. As the Rashab stood up in surprise, the Raza seized the moment and pointed out that now he was taller.
Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, the father of the two boys, observed the entire episode. The Rebbe asked for a chair, ordered the Raza to stand on it, and asked him, “Tell me, who’s taller now?”
The Raza answered excitedly that yet again he was taller.
“Aha!” said Rabbi Shmuel. “There you are! To be bigger than your friend, there is no need to pull him down. Simply elevate yourself!”
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In this week’s Parsha Noach, we find a denigrating story about Noach (Noah). He is the hero of the eponymous parsha. But, after surviving the Great Flood, he became intoxicated and his son Cham debased him. The Torah tells us that Cham’s two brothers Shem and Yefet, came to the rescue. Shem, enlisting Yefet’s help, took a garment and placed it on the shoulders of them both. They then walked backwards and covered their father’s nakedness. When they approached him and had to turn their bodies around, they did so while facing away from him, so that they did not ever see their father’s nakedness.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out (Lightpoints) based on the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov:
“Flaws that you see in someone else are a reflection of your own imperfections. From heaven you were led to notice these shortcomings in someone else, for your own deficiencies in that particular area would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
“Now, you might argue that perhaps you were made aware of your friend’s weaknesses in order for you to assist him in dealing with them. This might be true, but in that case your detection of your friend’s weaknesses would have been primarily of practical nature: in his flaws you would “see” and sense your responsibility to help him—not the fact that he is less than perfect. But instead you were “shown” a critical view of your friend, meaning that what you see is that your friend is imperfect, even more than you sense your responsibility to help him. This “chance discovery,” says the Baal Shem Tov, is not only about helping your friend; there’s something in it for you too—it brings attention to the areas in which you, too, could use critique and improvement.
“The incident of Shem and Yefet protecting their father’s honor alludes to this idea. The Torah emphasizes that Shem and Yefet “did not see their father’s nakedness.” In other words, not only did they not see their father naked since they faced the opposite direction, they also did not “see” his nakedness and shame; all they saw was a situation that demanded their assistance.”
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Yes, there is a need for opposing views in a democratic society. Animated dialogue is a sign of a robust system.
But, it’s up to us to choose whether we are promoting cherished ideas or seeing other people’s flaws.
When we have a chance to help someone, let’s look for the Mitzvah that it presents. Let’s try to see it as a Divine opportunity to improve myself.
It’s time to vote. And, I hope that this season, we humans can become spiritual voting machines. Let’s vote for a more introspective and uplifting perspective – one that elevates ourselves and others altogether.