Shabbat VaEtchanan: Do they admire us?

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Almost hidden in the long speech of Moses this week are two sentences that I have great difficulty reading because even though they are magnificent, they fall short of reality.

The first verse (Deuteronomy 4:6 ) says, “ Keep this law because that is what will make the nations of the world think of you as wise and understanding, and when they hear about these laws, they will say that surely this must be a wise understanding nation to have them.”

And the second verse ( Deuteronomy 4:8). “And they will say what other nation has such righteous laws and statutes as this Torah which I am giving you this day.”

Maybe three thousand years ago. But not now. I feel uncomfortable whenever I read this because the reality is that the world does not see it that way. Those who do admire us tend not to do so for religious reasons. If anything, they think our religion is quaint or crazy, old-fashioned, narrow-minded, and behind the times. And frankly, so do many Jews! Public Opinion is no measure of truth or morality. The amount of clicks or posts does not determine goodness or justice. It is not numbers I care about but the point at issue.

If some admire us, it is usually because of our tenacity, our ability to survive against all odds, and not to let the diseased minds of antisemites undermine our sense of value or hold us back from marching forward as we have recovered from each catastrophe and murderous assault over two thousand years where every major Western civilisation has tried at some stage to expel us, to suppress us, if not to destroy us. Not only survive but contribute massively to almost every cultural and innovative development over this whole period. Today, there is a higher proportion per capita of Nobel Prize winners than any other people. They admire our traditions of study and scholarship, adaptability, and making as much a success of our lives as we can. The Bible is still regarded as the foundation document of Western religions. We will reread the Ten Commandments this week. Its poetry, literature, and moral messages have underpinned and inspired most of the world. Even if others claim to have superseded us.

We live at a time when it is almost impossible to hide anything. Every religion is subjected to detailed scrutiny, and none has escaped ignominy. Abuse, hypocrisy, and a failure of leadership are everywhere. If we look around us, we see pockets of good, improvements in science, medicine, welfare, and pro-activity. We also see cruelty, excessive materialism, fornication, abuse of bodies and health, and a betrayal of everything we would consider good or holy.

I am deeply depressed by the failures of our religion. Of course, it touches me more deeply than the failure of others. Intolerance, abuse, violence, sexism, bureaucracy, putting religious authority above the needs of individuals, of failing to hear the voices of the oppressed. Yes, of course, we have much to be proud of. But the media do not shout about virtue, only vice.

I do not think the world at large thinks we are such a good religious example. I don’t think anyone on the outside would look at many of our laws of divorce to give just one example and say “Oh, what a wise nation, what great laws.” Though I do think our laws on abortion strike a fair balance between the demands of choice on the one hand and life on the other. I do not believe the rest of the world looks at Torah and says this is what we choose or that the Jewish religion will answer the challenges of modern times.

Despite the days of introspection in our calendar, whether the Ninth of Av, Rosh Hodesh, or Yom Kippur, it hurts that nothing seems to change. All good intentions are swallowed up by zealotry and ambition, and the pursuit of money. Even so, I thank God for my religion. I love it passionately and in no way regret that I have dedicated my life to it. I look at Torah and am inspired. If only we could do a better job keeping it.

Moses was right about our failings. His criticisms far outweigh the compliments. But then, as Proverbs says, “ Better the wounds of a friend than the praise of an enemy.”

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Rabbi Jeremy Rosen lives in New York. He was born in Manchester. His writings are concerned with religion, culture, history and current affairs – anything he finds interesting or relevant. They are designed to entertain and to stimulate. Disagreement is always welcome.