From Rabbi Craig Mayers
December 2020
Speech and its Implications
We find ourselves at the end of a tumultuous year, with perhaps some light at the end of the tunnel for a change! We are coming to a resolution on our national elections and are moving ever closer to a viable treatment for Covid-19 with the advent of several vaccine candidates coming very soon. We now finally have a chance to catch our breath both figuratively and literally! As 2020 comes to a close, it does unfortunately leave behind a still-present legacy of divisiveness. Our country still finds itself dealing with the negative impact of speech, both verbal and online. Americans are simply not speaking to each other in as civilized a manner as they should be.
We are blessed to live in a country that has as one of its most fundamental precepts our First Amendment right to free speech. But as with all our G-d given rights, this does not come without responsibility and accountability on how we use this cherished gift.
Over the past decades, we have watched constructive discourse and debate break down in our country, with a trend away from the value of civil discourse to one of conveying hurtful and at times harmful sentiments. We see this happening throughout our society regardless of political affiliation. This a very dangerous path leading to the dissolution of the harmony that binds our precious country.
Over the past year, we have seen the challenges social media presents and, in some ways, literally contributes to us becoming more divided. We tend to act on or respond to what we read from the internet or hear from others without questioning the legitimacy or veracity of the content of the messaging and based on our actions, we are harming each other.
Speech has been compared to an arrow shot from a bow. Just like the arrow, once words are released, whether verbally or online, they cannot be recalled and the harm they can do cannot be stopped. As Jews, we are intensely aware of the power of speech. Words can be a source of inspiration or they can also be a catalyst for intolerance. One of the gravest sins in Judaism is lashon-hara (literally, “the evil tongue”). The Talmud tells us that the tongue is an instrument so dangerous that it must be kept hidden from view, behind two protective walls (the mouth and teeth) to prevent its misuse. Clearly this Talmudic teaching translates to our fingers as well as we type our messages online. Judaism demands that we control this impulse to speak negatively about each other, which includes denigrating another’s opinions.
Our sages teach that while the Romans physically destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, what really brought about the downfall was sinat chinam, baseless hatred. This is also defined as Jew-on-Jew negativity, primarily in speech. We see this repeated throughout our history. Not long after the fall of the Temple, 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples –just about all of them –were wiped out. Why? The Talmud teaches: “all of them died at the same time, because they did not treat each other with respect.” This very nearly brought an end to Torah study and learning. If this lack of respect for each other and baseless hatred in our speech brought down the Holy Temple, and nearly ended Judaism, how much more so are we at risk now!
Debate and argument are ingrained in Judaism – but they must be done with respect for the opponent. The Mishnah teaches this by describing an argument which is “for the sake of heaven” and one which is not. Rabbis Hillel and Shammai –who constantly disagreed on matters of Jewish law and interpretation – nevertheless held great respect for each other. Theirs was deemed an argument for the sake of heaven. We have the opportunity as Jews to change how we address our conflicts and differences of opinions. Should we wish to engage in a discussion, we need to do so with patience, understanding and respect for the other individual and their opinions. And keep in mind that your comments on social media or in any public or semipublic domain, can have implications beyond the individual(s) you are engaging with, as many others can potentially view or read them.
Let us represent our community with dignity and honor. As we approach the new year, let us remember that we are not defined by our politics. Our enemies certainly don’t care that we are registered with one party or the other, or who we voted for – they only see us as Jews. Perhaps we can learn something from this! Let the blessing of living in this great country with our First Amendment rights, as well as being part of our caring Temple community, lead us to inspire each other with not only our words but with our actions and to bring us closer to each other so that we may continue to cherish our common bonds and remain united as Jews. And may all of our arguments always be for the sake of heaven!
Happy Hanukkah to all.
Rabbi Craig Mayers and Bill Troner
We find ourselves at the end of a tumultuous year, with perhaps some light at the end of the tunnel for a change! We are coming to a resolution on our national elections and are moving ever closer to a viable treatment for Covid-19 with the advent of several vaccine candidates coming very soon. We now finally have a chance to catch our breath both figuratively and literally! As 2020 comes to a close, it does unfortunately leave behind a still-present legacy of divisiveness. Our country still finds itself dealing with the negative impact of speech, both verbal and online. Americans are simply not speaking to each other in as civilized a manner as they should be.
We are blessed to live in a country that has as one of its most fundamental precepts our First Amendment right to free speech. But as with all our G-d given rights, this does not come without responsibility and accountability on how we use this cherished gift.
Over the past decades, we have watched constructive discourse and debate break down in our country, with a trend away from the value of civil discourse to one of conveying hurtful and at times harmful sentiments. We see this happening throughout our society regardless of political affiliation. This a very dangerous path leading to the dissolution of the harmony that binds our precious country.
Over the past year, we have seen the challenges social media presents and, in some ways, literally contributes to us becoming more divided. We tend to act on or respond to what we read from the internet or hear from others without questioning the legitimacy or veracity of the content of the messaging and based on our actions, we are harming each other.
Speech has been compared to an arrow shot from a bow. Just like the arrow, once words are released, whether verbally or online, they cannot be recalled and the harm they can do cannot be stopped. As Jews, we are intensely aware of the power of speech. Words can be a source of inspiration or they can also be a catalyst for intolerance. One of the gravest sins in Judaism is lashon-hara (literally, “the evil tongue”). The Talmud tells us that the tongue is an instrument so dangerous that it must be kept hidden from view, behind two protective walls (the mouth and teeth) to prevent its misuse. Clearly this Talmudic teaching translates to our fingers as well as we type our messages online. Judaism demands that we control this impulse to speak negatively about each other, which includes denigrating another’s opinions.
Our sages teach that while the Romans physically destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, what really brought about the downfall was sinat chinam, baseless hatred. This is also defined as Jew-on-Jew negativity, primarily in speech. We see this repeated throughout our history. Not long after the fall of the Temple, 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples –just about all of them –were wiped out. Why? The Talmud teaches: “all of them died at the same time, because they did not treat each other with respect.” This very nearly brought an end to Torah study and learning. If this lack of respect for each other and baseless hatred in our speech brought down the Holy Temple, and nearly ended Judaism, how much more so are we at risk now!
Debate and argument are ingrained in Judaism – but they must be done with respect for the opponent. The Mishnah teaches this by describing an argument which is “for the sake of heaven” and one which is not. Rabbis Hillel and Shammai –who constantly disagreed on matters of Jewish law and interpretation – nevertheless held great respect for each other. Theirs was deemed an argument for the sake of heaven. We have the opportunity as Jews to change how we address our conflicts and differences of opinions. Should we wish to engage in a discussion, we need to do so with patience, understanding and respect for the other individual and their opinions. And keep in mind that your comments on social media or in any public or semipublic domain, can have implications beyond the individual(s) you are engaging with, as many others can potentially view or read them.
Let us represent our community with dignity and honor. As we approach the new year, let us remember that we are not defined by our politics. Our enemies certainly don’t care that we are registered with one party or the other, or who we voted for – they only see us as Jews. Perhaps we can learn something from this! Let the blessing of living in this great country with our First Amendment rights, as well as being part of our caring Temple community, lead us to inspire each other with not only our words but with our actions and to bring us closer to each other so that we may continue to cherish our common bonds and remain united as Jews. And may all of our arguments always be for the sake of heaven!
Happy Hanukkah to all.
Rabbi Craig Mayers and Bill Troner