This Shavuot, we came together to honor wrestling that Kadima has been doing since its beginning. It was moving for me to be with people listening to one another with open hearts and resilience hearing so many people’s deep truths for which I am so grateful.
I framed the conversation, which centered on Israel/Palestine, with the following text from Midrash Psalms (900 CE, in the Land of Israel):
Rabbi Yanai said: The Torah was not given in a clear cut manner, rather on every statement G-d said to Moses, G-d would say forty-nine explanations (panim, lit. faces) for how any matter could be found fitting [tahor, lit. pure], and forty-nine explanations why any matter could be found ill-fitting [tamei, lit. impure].
Moses asked God, ‘Master of the Universe, when will we know the truth of the matter?’
God said to Moses: ‘Go according to the majority’ (Exodus 23:2): if the majority rules it is impure – it is impure; if the majority rules it is pure – it is pure.
This text continues a common rabbinic idea that there are so many perspectives to Torah, that we only hold some truth with every way we perceive an issue. It also helps us consider that a community ultimately needs to act according to a particular approach, even though there are so many. This text uses a line from Exodus to urge us to “go according to the majority.” On Tuesday evening, we discussed when, how, and even if majority decisions make sense to us for how to move on a matter, and for which one. Unsurprisingly, we had close to 49 perspectives represented on that!
Ironically, this proof text from Exodus seems to be saying something different though: do not pervert testimony or oneself to incline toward the majority.
As we move away from Shavuot and find ourselves now in the wilderness guided by the wisdom we have attained, let us remember that wisdom in part comes from considering multiple approaches and in part by moving according to a shared one. In as much, all our perspectives, shared, helps us attain the few we are to pursue together. This is a great reminder for me, and expect to hear more as we move through the summer into High Holidays.
In the meantime, Shabbat shalom!
R’ David
PS – I look forward to seeing you in the wilderness along the way: save these Friday nights for summer outdoor gathering: July 12 and August 9. More details to come!
PPS – It is not too late to make an end-of-fiscal-year gift to Kadima that supports multiple perspectives leading to shared action.
I framed the conversation, which centered on Israel/Palestine, with the following text from Midrash Psalms (900 CE, in the Land of Israel):
Rabbi Yanai said: The Torah was not given in a clear cut manner, rather on every statement G-d said to Moses, G-d would say forty-nine explanations (panim, lit. faces) for how any matter could be found fitting [tahor, lit. pure], and forty-nine explanations why any matter could be found ill-fitting [tamei, lit. impure].
Moses asked God, ‘Master of the Universe, when will we know the truth of the matter?’
God said to Moses: ‘Go according to the majority’ (Exodus 23:2): if the majority rules it is impure – it is impure; if the majority rules it is pure – it is pure.
This text continues a common rabbinic idea that there are so many perspectives to Torah, that we only hold some truth with every way we perceive an issue. It also helps us consider that a community ultimately needs to act according to a particular approach, even though there are so many. This text uses a line from Exodus to urge us to “go according to the majority.” On Tuesday evening, we discussed when, how, and even if majority decisions make sense to us for how to move on a matter, and for which one. Unsurprisingly, we had close to 49 perspectives represented on that!
Ironically, this proof text from Exodus seems to be saying something different though: do not pervert testimony or oneself to incline toward the majority.
As we move away from Shavuot and find ourselves now in the wilderness guided by the wisdom we have attained, let us remember that wisdom in part comes from considering multiple approaches and in part by moving according to a shared one. In as much, all our perspectives, shared, helps us attain the few we are to pursue together. This is a great reminder for me, and expect to hear more as we move through the summer into High Holidays.
In the meantime, Shabbat shalom!
R’ David
PS – I look forward to seeing you in the wilderness along the way: save these Friday nights for summer outdoor gathering: July 12 and August 9. More details to come!
PPS – It is not too late to make an end-of-fiscal-year gift to Kadima that supports multiple perspectives leading to shared action.
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