Although American Jews and Israelis share a strong and mutual feeling of solidarity, U.S. coreligionists have a very low willingness to strengthen the relationship, according to a new study on the subject released from the Jewish Peoplehood research on February 1st. We learn that only 68% of American Jews feel connected to their Israeli counterparts. However, the research also shows that Americans possess a drastically lower level of willingness than the Israelis' when it comes to strengthening the bond. These two groups have scarce direct contact which may explain this. In contrast with past research projects, the Jewish Peoplehood survey also showed most Israelis perceive themselves as Jewish first, and only then as Israeli.
This week's parsha, Yitro, is most famous for the revelation on Mt.Sinai, but the lesser-known beginning section is just as interesting. As the Israeliteshead on out into the wilderness, they meet up with Yitro, Moses' father-in-law, who sees that Moses is surely headed towards "burn-out" from trying to deal with all the people's needs himself. So Yitro offers some good advice about trusting others with important work; he tells Moses to appoint captains on a local level, who can resolve minor problems themselves:"And they shall judge the people at all times, and it shall be that any major matter they shall bring to you, and they themselves shall judge every minor matter, thereby making it easier for you, and they shall bear [the burden] with you." (Exodus 18:22). Moses takes his father-in-law's advice, and implements the plan.
Moses understood that this lesson applied to rich and poor alike, and when he taught the local judges, he instructed them to pass onto him the "hard" cases- that is, the complex ones, whether or not they involved rich or poor.So far, so good - this is a beautiful way of expressing Judaism's ethic of fairness and the dignity of every person. Rich and poor, peasant and prince, all are equal under the law, because they are all made in the Divine Image, and thus possessed of an inherent dignity and right to redress grievances.
This is so important to remember on a communal and national level - each person should be important to us,because central to our faith is that each person is important to God. Yet there is one more aspect of this interpretation that I find inspiring - a medieval rabbi's midrash sees in Moses a lawgiver of great integrity, but also a leader of great humility. In this teaching, Moses didn't reject Yitro's flawed suggestion, but listened carefully to it, took what was good in it, and quietly improved upon it, while at the same time allowing Yitro the honor of seeing his idea made into reality. That, to me, is the first implementation of Moses' attention to human dignity - that even though he had to slightly modify Yitro's plan, he did so in a way which preserved his honor and feelings.It's not always easy to treat an other's honor as your own; it requires integrity, thoughtfulness, and humility. Yet in so doing, we can better see each person - rich or poor, family or stranger, as an opportunity to meet the Sacred, and thus make inseparable our spiritual growth and our ethical horizons.
On our journey tomorrow, we will begin the process of connecting and strengthening our relationship with our Israeli brethren. May we be like Moses and find ways to honor our Israeli brothers and sisters and realize as American Jews, we all benefit with a strong relationship.
Shabbat Shalom
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