By Amalya Teitelbaum, Senior Business Editor and Business Manager
Senseless superiority is the downfall of the arrogant fool; so easy is its path for those who believe themselves to be godlike. Some people place themselves atop a golden pedestal, staring down with ungodly judgment. This “holier than thou” complex has caused certain individuals to believe that they are better than others, simply because they do certain things that others don’t. They follow halakha (Jewish law) more stringently, and some believe themselves better for it, so they look down on those who defer. They sincerely believe that since you don’t follow those values and actions you are meaningless. Worthy of nothing.
We have lost what it means to be Jewish. There are those who believe that their way is right, disapproving of people who dare to act, speak, look, or be different. This happens consistently in places in which the presence of God should be felt the most: our shuls (synagogues). Whenever somebody who is not exactly like everybody else walks into shul, immediate disapproval appears on the faces of congregants. Their eyes follow the individual mistrustfully, as they walk in and sit down. And no matter if that individual is praying, or simply sitting there trying to surround themselves with God, people’s eyes follow. Ironic is it not, one who claims themselves godlike yet furrows their eyes at all unlike themselves.
What ensues afterward is tragic. The unwanted person sees that they are treated as if they do not belong. Nothing they do seems good enough for the few who consider themselves the holiest. The individual has already been deemed not righteous enough, not Jewish enough. So they think to themselves: why should I even bother? Why should I try to connect myself to God when those who are supposedly closest to Him look at me as if I am lesser? So the individual stops going to the house of God, stops going to the shul, stops everything. And then those who have placed themselves on the pedestal look down and ask themselves why the attendance at shul is getting smaller and smaller every day. Consider what would have happened if that individual was welcomed with open arms? What would have happened if that community had chosen to celebrate and accept differences? The individual opened their heart to their community and they had it slashed. Imagine a shul where individuals, young and old, similar or different, individuals of different values, can sit surrounded by God in harmony. And imagine a time when this scenario doesn’t have to be imagined, it can be reality.
We have lost what it means to be Jewish. A rose amongst the thorns, they say, yet it is the thorns who fear being pricked. The Torah states, “Love thy neighbor as you love thyself,” and one must wonder if the second half holds true. For if one truly loves themselves how could they treat their neighbors as if they are dust that scatters by people’s feet? We have all seen it happen in public spaces. A woman in “men’s clothing,” two teenage boys with their hands clasped inside one another, men with sparkles flashing across their eyelids, a clinic offering refuge to those who have something they never wanted. They look at one in a relationship, one who has purple and blue beat into their skin, and wonder if she knows that if she had just kept quiet this wouldn’t have happened. Wonder if the man with nail marks slashed across his face knows that it is his own fault, he should’ve just done what she wanted. They look at people unlike them and automatically sneer just based on a first glance. These individuals look at people suffering and say to themselves that they deserved it, that they have wronged God somehow. This could potentially be one of the main causes of most of the problems in Judaism between its different sects. One sect will always think that it’s superior, more honorable, and more godlike than the others. An amusing sight it must be, to hear them gossiping about those falling from grace when it is that very gossip that once destroyed us.
There are those who have lost what it means to be Jewish, and there are those who have let it happen. Simply standing there and letting people within their community speak ill of others. Allowing people in the community to treat others as if they are less than them. No stand is taken, and no voice is utilized. They themselves may not do it, but they allow it to be done.
This is not what Judaism is about. This is not what Judaism should be about. Judaism is about being caring and spreading love. Being Godlike in terms of mercy, community, and empathy. It is about seeing those in crisis and coming to their aid as if they were your own. Judaism is being righteous, kind, and honorable. Understanding that difference doesn’t mean dastardly, knowing that a choice isn’t villainous simply because it wouldn’t be the one that you make. Judaism is looking at someone and seeking good in them, even if we may disapprove of their actions. Just as there are 70 plus right ways to interpret the Torah, how many more right ways must there be to celebrate God and Judaism? So why should we stand there and allow holes to open? We must be better, taking a stand against the wrongdoings within our community, before we shatter without the ability to build ourselves back up again. If we continue to act as we do, we will become our own downfall.
We have lost what it means to be Jewish. Or perhaps we never had it in the first place.