The political conventions were a time for each party to get their messages out. A time to exchange ideas, ideologies, and argue over the future needs of our country. Instead, the primary message was – from both parties – the other party and its leadership are not able to lead, why each party thinks that they are better. Our country had, and always will have, two major political parties, so it is not new that we have differences of opinions. However, such an animosity that one party has toward another, is sad.
I recently heard a senator describe the political scene in America today as a “Civil War of Words.”
As a Rabbi I walk in the middle. I am politically unbiased; I avoid taking sides. Yet many see this as a cop-out. The more heated people get with their views the more they want me “in their camp,” and when I don’t join, even if I am on “their side,” they still have a difficult time with me.
This week’s Torah portion explains why taking that middle-of-the-road stance is an “active decision,” not an inactive one.
The Torah says to “walk in G-d’s way.” What does it mean to walk in G-d’s way? Maimonides explains that this means that we should act like G-d. Just as G-d is kind, so should we be kind. For example, we should visit the sick, help the poor, give charity, etc. Just as G-d has compassion, so we too, should be compassionate, and the list goes on.
Here is a question for you: G-d already commanded us to help the poor, give charity, visit the sick, etc. What does this statement “walk in G-d’s ways” add to what we already know?
The Torah is telling us what kind of attitude to have while we are performing these actions. You see, we can perform an act without any feelings – simply out of an obligation, or out of self-aggrandizing – such as, “I visit the sick.” The feeling, the heart, that should go into the action, however, is lost. G-d is telling us to perform this act, “the same way as I do it.” Do it for the sake of the recipient, not for yourself. Do it selflessly.
Walking in G-d’s way means that you take a step back and view the world from G-d’s perspective; you see the big picture, and you don’t get caught up in the little things. You care about everyone, without judgment. You don’t help only those who agree with you politically, but not those who don’t. You decide to be unbiasedly kind.
There are so many distractions these days that it becomes difficult for us to separate the message from the messenger. However, if we can distance ourselves a little bit, and stand above the fray to take G-d’s view of the world, we will be able to walk in G-d’s way and get along with our neighbor—even if we don’t see eye to eye on every matter. Because in the big picture, what matters more than anything else in the world is that we “Love our neighbor as ourselves.”
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova.