Vayikra 2016

Vayikra

Trump is not an Option for the Jewish people
(revised again)



And so we enter a whole new book of Torah. There’s much here that can be applied to  the present political crisis in the United States.

Quick review: In Vayikra (this week’s parasha) we learn in detail the how, who and what of  animal sacrifice.  These are the issues:  How do we deal with the animals (and all the gory details), which animals, what kind of sacrifice and who are the people, priests and witnesses involved?

This present drash (teaching) is going to be a three-step dance. First how do we get beyond visuals of (inhumane) animal sacrifice? Next, what does it symbolize? Finally, what does it have to do with the Specter of  Fundamentalism  facing us head-on in our political arena today? 

What do I mean by Specter? Point: The philosopher  J.Derrida in his book Specters of Marx  enables us to see and feel the power of an idea as if it is real and palpable. By a Specter of Fundamentalism  I am referring to a Being hanging over us, something so horrific and outrageous that it blocks our view of  holiness. A Specter (like the ghost of Hamlet created by Shakespeare for example) is a be-all and end-all. Meaning…and Truth… get lost in the amazing event of its very awesome and/or terrible apparition.

Let's move on to the first step. This step only covers animal sacrifice. So, if you've come to terms with it in Torah somehow, please move on to step two.

Step One: How do we get beyond the inhumane visuals of animal sacrifice so relevant in Vayikra? It isn’t easy. Of course, we would never want to be these sacrificed animals (please keep that in mind) and since we are a compassionate crowd this is important. This is how I do it. First, I look at present society. There’s much that happens, nasty things, cruel, hidden. Much is subtle, under the skin. Some write about it, speak or work to prevent it. Some don’t. Whatever we do (and even if it hurts) we must finally come to some connection with it in order to remain sane. We think, this is what  people do, people with whom I cannot relate. And we think, I will not do that. I will try not to do that.  And we create some equanimity so we can see the full picture. Equanimity means distance and with distance comes observation as well as intelligent and compassionate action. 

The same goes for animal sacrifice. Oh, we can think, this is what the ancient people did to get closer to God. That’s what they did. And that’s what is written. This doesn’t mean we do it. We create some equanimity so we can see the full picture and the reason behind it. Yes, with equanimity comes observation and analysis to lead us to intelligent and compassionate action.

This is not rocket science. It  is the tool of our Talmudic rabbis.  They don’t cling to literal analysis so (since we are a rabbinic culture) neither should we.  There could be a huge footnote here. Open any Talmudic tract. You will see.

This brings us to step two.

 What does  all of this  sacrifice mean?  Clearly, with the amount of Torah-time spent on it (the whole book of Leviticus ) structured intimacy with God is seen as important.  It also means that there is a way out. We all do mess up. Therefore we act to straighten ourselves out. It becomes two steps backwards three steps forwards. When we mess up we need  exponential divine intimacy in the name of peace, fire, sin or any other names we want to give it.   We must pay attention to the details and the type of atonement. We must  discern between our guttural yearnings, whether small like a turtle dove or strong like a ram. We must see that there are roles. Some do the offering, some mess up and some watch. We all contribute to the intimacy however. It’s a community event. Rabbi Jonathon Sacks says that such inhumane animal (or outer) sacrifice is now replaced by inner- sacrifice or modern prayer. With respect, I'd like to add  meditation,  yoga, tears, laughter,  words of kindness, rhythm, love, vision, and healing.

This brings us to step three.

What does any of this have to do with today’s political situation? That is if we want to get beyond the animal character of some or our political contenders (another teaching altogether perhaps saved for the parasha Noach).

Let’s look closely at Vayikra. What is not mentioned except for twice is the kind of mess-up.  I mean, we don’t read how we can stay close to God after yelling abusive language, throwing a rock at a window, starting a dangerous fire, failing to report an incident (like hitting a car or hurting a mule), staring at a beautiful woman (when you are married), kissing a beautiful woman, sleeping with one, or in that case, murder.

We know that some of the above...the lighter ones...are certainly sacrifice-worthy. And some are not.

We read that we can straighten up  if we have done lousy generalized things. Maybe we know what we did. Maybe not. Maybe we touched some gross objects. For the most part though these mess-ups are general.  Finally, at the end of the parasha we know we can move on and be close to God even if (knowing) we have taken part in stealing, lying or cheating.

This is intense. A liar and a crook can move on and be embraced by God and the people. Not through jail or some inhumane physical punishment but if he simply confesses, gives back the stolen stuff (and more) and does what is necessary…prayer, meditation, fasting, however we see it today… for his exponential  personal sacrifice.

Think though of  mess-ups  not specified, mess-ups that would hold meaning in ancient times. How come stealing is the only conscious mess-up specified?

According to the rabbis, this is why:  It is the boundary. Anything worse is long-gone shall we say, beyond return. In other words, once we cross the boundary a sacrifice just can't do the job. Remember that.

What is beyond the boundary? Well according to the rabbis (in the Tamudic tract  Baba Mezi’a 58 b)  it is something called ona’at devarim. It can be translated as over-reaching or humiliation with words. This is what we read:

A tanna recited before R. Nahman b. Isaac: He who publicly shames  his neighbour is as though he shed blood. Whereupon he remarked to him, 'You say well, because I have seen it [sc. such shaming], the ruddiness departing and paleness supervening.

Abaye asked R. Dimi: What do people [most] carefully avoid in the West [sc. palestine]?  He replied: putting others to shame.  For R. Hanina said: All descend into Gehenna, excepting three. 'All' — can you really think so! But say thus: All who descend into Gehenna [subsequently] reascend, excepting three, who descend but do not reascend, viz., He who commits adultery with a married woman, publicly shames his neighbour, or fastens an evil epithet [nickname] upon his neighbour. 'Fastens an epithet' — but that is putting to shame! — [It means], Even when he is accustomed to the name.

Check it out. First,  as my teacher Rabbi Schochet has taught, we see that public humiliation is likened to murder (blood is drained from the face). Next, we see that adultery, public humiliation (murder) and ostracizing a neighbor are beyond return. Basically, one goes down to Gehenna (hell) and does not come back up.

In short, you don't do it. Period.  And that means you especially don’t do it in the name of Israel.

So, this is a message for Jews who really want to be Jewish or at least who want to  follow the rules of Talmud.
 

This is the message for Jews who don’t want to suddenly become the animals of the metaphorical Levitical sacrifice. 

Donald Trump….the clear Specter of Fundamentalist Capitalism… can rectify himself for his lies, double-dealing and stealing if in fact he has actually taken part in those activities.  I mean, in order to  amass his billions he may have needed to declare seven bankruptcies and survive legal attacks concerning his Trump University…but he can still come forward with appropriate rectification, self-sacrifice and dedication to Israel and be a friend of the Jewish people. Of course, he would have to fess up first which is doubtful. But at least we're in the land of potential. I think it would take some very real sacrifice (don't ask me the number of  symbolic rams and sheep). I also think he would have to place billions of altars on every ant-hill in the United States, change his behavior, become clean and stay clean. The Talmudic rabbis don't like repeat offenders.  Finally, I want to be clear.  If  this gigantic and improbable feat was accomplished, a Jew could support him without losing integrity.  The word could is very different than should.

However and crucial: Any thought of rectification is a mute point. Why? He has already crashed past the above-mentioned boundary of no return.

His clear and clean humiliation and (in other words) marginalization of women, Latinos, the Muslim people, Blacks, the  LGBTQIA  community, and any refugee seeking asylum points to the fact that he can not be embraced by the Jewish people, not now, not ever.

Nothing, not even a Trump Doral suite filled with perfect roses and champagne, not even a gilded spade, can dig him out of his self-dug grave. Not even billions of dollars for Israeli defense. Not even tens of millions to the Wiesenthal Foundation or to other worthwhile Jewish organizations. 

Acceptance of such money at this point, let alone a vote for him, is nothing short of spiritual prostitution.  And honestly, we Jews have been marginalized long enough to know quite well the long list of falsifications that follow our name. Wouldn't it be a pity if prostitution was the one authentic tag on that list? It would certainly upset me.

That Specter of Fundamentalist Capitalism…if we are AIPAC  or J-Street…cannot be made so huge that we can't look beyond it to basic decency. It can not be made so huge that we fail to see beyond it to the basics of  the mitzvot. This Specter can not be so huge...whether we find comfort in it or disgust... that we cease to hear the marginalization and see the danger.  It can't be so huge that we are blocked from the Truth found in Talmud (among other fine teachings and scriptures).

There are several Republicans who would make fine presidents. There are two strong Democratic candidates.

Trump is not an option.