When you associate with people who make poor choices, there is a good chance that you will be influenced by them. As the saying goes, "guilty by association." The reason given for this is because influence can be contagious.
Seemingly, this outcome should work the other way around as well. If we can be influenced toward the negative, we should also be able to be influenced toward the positive. In fact, Judaism teaches us the concept of, "All Jews are responsible for one another." This statement is not just a more positive spin on the same idea; it represents a much deeper message. We are all connected. Our identities are interconnected with each other, not just influenced by each other. It is because of this shared soul that we become responsible for each other.
In this week’s Torah portion of Re’eh, we learn about the Ir Hanidachat, the condemned city. One of the ten commandments is not to worship idols. This applies to the individual. What happens if a whole community turns to idol worship? The city is declared to be an Ir Hanidachat, a condemned city. As a result, all the city’s inhabitants, even the non-guilty, are punished. Although the Talmud tells us that there was never a need to implement this law, it is worth learning about so that we can learn more about ourselves.
Some obvious questions arise. What is the reason behind this law? What did the children do wrong? Why should the adults who did not sin also have to be punished? What happens if an idol worshipper regrets their mistake—would their repentance help?
When the Torah states that "All Jews are responsible for one another," it is not offering a buzzword. It is revealing our core essence. The Jewish nation is a single entity yet we may hold different opinions, speak different languages, and live vastly different lives. The saying "Two Jews, three opinions" proves our vibrant individuality, yet we remain undeniably one.
That is why the Torah views the condemned city as a single unit. When a community acts together, the consequences are not limited to isolated individuals. Their shared identity means that everyone is affected. This is not because everyone is equally guilty, but because no Jew is ever completely detached from the Jewish people. When you are one, you remain one at all times. Even teshuvah does not undo that connection. Repentance changes our relationship with G-d and transforms the individual, but it does not separate us from our people.
As we prepare for the month of Elul, leading into the high holidays, it is a good time to think about our connection to each other. What does it mean to me to be part of the Jewish community? For the good, and hopefully, only for the good.
Shabat Shalom