Osek Be-tzorkhei Tzibbur Caring for the Community
Bein Adam Le-chavero: Ethics of Interpersonal Conduct
By Rav Binyamin Zimmerman
Shiur #30: Osek Be-tzorkhei Tzibbur Caring
for the Community
In the last two lessons, we have begun to discuss
the great principle of Ve-ahavta le-reiakha
kamokha, loving ones fellow as oneself, and its
implications for balancing ones own needs against the needs of the community. In truth, Rabbi Akivas consideration
of Ve-ahavta as the great principle of the Torah is not fully
accepted by all. Ben Azzai, a
disciple of Rabbi Akiva, claims that there is another principle which is
greater. The commentators discuss
these two opinions, and their explanations have tremendous ramifications
regarding our outlook on personal and communal needs.
Ben Azzais Great Principle
Torat Kohanim (Kedoshim
4:12) cites this dispute:
"Ve-ahavta le-reiakha kamokha" Rabbi Akiva says:
This is a great principle of the Torah.
Ben Azzai says, Zeh sefer toledot adam
this is an even greater principle."
Ben Azzai is citing
Bereishit 5:1-2:
This is the book of the generations of man.
On the day that God created man,
in the likeness of God He created him. Male and female He created them, and
He blessed them, and he named them Adam on the day they were created.
At first glance, Ben
Azzais verse appears to be very
deficient. Though a few lessons ago
we might not have understood how Ve-ahavta le-reiakha
kamokha
is so fundamental, certainly we can
understand why a verse stressing loving ones fellow Jew is important. Ben Azzais verse on the other hand
appears near the beginning of the Torah, as an introduction to the lineage of
mankind from the dawn of creation.
What is so significant about this verse?
The Midrash (Bereishit Rabba 24:7) explains
Ben Azzais reasoning in a rather understandable manner. Focusing on a verse speaking about
the creation of all mankind from one Adam crystallizes each human beings
responsibility to others.
Thus, one should not say, Since I am scorned, I
should scorn my fellow as well; since I have been cursed, I will curse my fellow
as well.
Rabbi Tanchuma says, If you do so, you should know
who are you scorning in the likeness of God He created him.
A similar idea is mentioned by the Daat Zekenim (Bereishit
5:1) who explains that the expression greater principle means that this
principle applies to more people, as it includes people who do not care about
their own honor.
The Yerushalmi (Nedarim 9:4) similarly brings
the dispute between Rabbi Akiva and Ben Azzai, and the commentators give
technical explanations to Ben Azzais opinion.
The Korban Ha-eda there (s.v. Zeh) explains that Ve-ahavta
refers only to ones
reia, his fellow, while Zeh sefer includes all of mankind, as we are all descended from the same source.
The Penei Moshe (s.v. Zeh) explains, furthermore, that even though Ve-ahavta
is a great principle in
treating ones fellow with love and will certainly
enable one to excel in
ones interpersonal obligations, one still may fall short in their religious
obligations. However, the verse
concludes by focusing on the religious perspective: one must honor ones fellow
man because mistreating another is an affront to God, who created man in His
image.
Therefore, Ben Azzai maintains that this principle is greater, for it
includes two elements: when one is careful with anothers honor because the
other was created in the divine image, certainly one will also be careful not to
affront God and will be zealous in fulfilling the commandments between man and
God.
The Raavan (Sheelot U-teshuvot 37) adds
another beautiful layer while explaining the dispute:
It seems to me that this is the explanation: Ben
Azzai expounds Zeh sefer toledot adam means that one should love his
fellows as if they are his generations, his children. However, Rabbi Akiva says that every
individual should love his fellow as if his fellow is himself.
This, in fact, is the dispute. Ben Azzai maintains that an
individual loves his children more than he loves himself, while Rabbi Akiva says
that one loves himself more than he loves his children.
According to the Raavan, there is not really
a fundamental disagreement here.
Both sages agree that one should love his fellow to the greatest degree
possible. There is only a small
disagreement as to the maximal capability of love.
These explanations present Rabbi Akiva and Ben Azzai
as agreeing on the broader issues, with a minor disagreement regarding which
verse better expresses the overarching principle.
However, other commentators see Rabbi Akiva and Ben Azzai as disagreeing
on a more fundamental level.
The Malbim (Vayikra 8) explains that
philosophers constantly express the desire for an all-inclusive code of moral
conduct, and this understanding lies at the heart of the dispute between Rabbi
Akiva and Ben Azzai. The Malbim
understands the mitzva of Ve-ahavta
as a call to treat others in the same manner that one would want to be
treated by others, similar to the dictum of Hillel (Shabbat 31a, see lesson #28). Rabbi Akivas identification of this
verse as "a great principle of the Torah" proclaims that the Torah's ethical
code requires that any action or trait is to be assessed by determining whether
or not one would like all people to act in this way. The basic code of ethics,
according to Rabbi Akiva, demands that one act personally in a manner which he
perceives as the desired universal mode of conduct.
A person acts unethically if he acts in a
way which he would never want to become the universal norm. Therefore,
acting in a manner where one treats others as he would want to be
treated is the great principle that Rabbi Akiva teaches us that the Torah
endorses.
Ben Azzai, on the other hand, the Malbim explains,
maintains that this principle is still deficient because one is not acting out
of noble motives; rather, his
ethical standard is a self-serving one. If ethical conduct is based solely
upon one's wishes for a universal standard, then ultimately, ones concept of
ethics is dictated by ones own interests. The ideal approach, according to Ben
Azzai, would be that one care for the needs and well-being of others for their
own sake, not out of concern for one's own long-term interests.
Therefore, Ben Azzai points to the verse
"This is the book of the generations of man" as representing the essential basis
of Jewish ethics. Ben Azzai views this verse as defining all of mankind as one
being, a single entity that originates from the same source. All of mankind is created in the
likeness of God; collectively, all people express the likeness of God, which
unites all souls as if they are one being, similar to a human body being
composed of various organs. The
Malbim goes on to explain how Ben Azzais fundamental tenet of Jewish ethics is
built on the view that all mankind is bound together into a single entity, and
therefore one cannot imagine treating others differently than one would treat
oneself, because all are bound as one.
One might add to the understanding of the Malbim that one who
realizes that he is a part of one whole can in fact
act like Rabbi Akiva and treat others as he would want himself treated, because
ones approach is not self-serving; his self includes the community as a whole.
The Alter of Slabodka is
quoted as stating, The greatest chesed you
can do is towards yourself.
However, this outlook has its dangers. Ben
Azzais view, focusing on needs shared with others and not viewing all of
society through the eyes of ones own needs, serves as a means of preventing the
development of anokhiyut, self-absorption.
Rav S. R. Hirsch (Bereishit 5:1-2) explains
the fundamental importance of these two verses while formulating the outlook
that man must have regarding Creation in order to succeed in life.
This verse, which introduces a new phase in the
history of mans education, bears a marked resemblance to the verse (2:4) which
introduced the history of the worlds development. That verse explains that all the
phenomena after creation are the natural products of heaven and earth, as they
all originate bi-hibaram, when they
were created, from the laws set by the Creator for heaven and earth at the time
of Creation
Man would not be worthy of the name Adam, if all
this diverse history could not develop from him.
If man is required, on account of his freedom, to be greater than the
angels, then he must also be given the ability by virtue of his freedom to
be worse than the devil (to use a common expression). The possibility of descending to the
lowest level was foreseen in Adam.
It is inconceivable that Gods work did not turn out as intended. The diverse phenomena of human
history are merely toledot Adam, what developed from the concept of
Adam.
The foregoing helps us understand the words of our
Sages (Yerushalmi Nedarim 9:4); Rabbi Akiva says that Ve-ahavta
is the great principle of the Torah.
Indeed, in truth, there is only one sin: anokhiyut, selfishness,
egoism. Once a person has freed
himself from egoism, and his fellow man is as dear to him as his own soul, he is
capable of performing all of his duties and fulfilling all of the mitzvot. Ben Azzai, however, says that Zeh
sefer toledot Adam is a still greater, more comprehensive principle. This sentence expresses the unity of
the human species. The greatest
criminal and the lowest type of degenerate are also included in Gods book as toledot
Adam; everything developed from one Adam, who was created in Gods image. Toledot is written without
the letter vav, in order to indicate that even if mans doings are
deficient and flawed, they are still toledot Adam.
Hence, as all human beings bear the
name Adam, the image of God is never completely lost. This is the first truth, which stands
at the very outset of human history.
Ben Azzais teaching of the importance of this
verse, which describes Gods creation of mankind, underscores the spiritual
potential in all of humanity and the requirement to express care for others as
one obliterates egoism from his personality.
Love of Jews and Unifying the Jewish People
While Ben Azzais verse calls for the equal
treatment of all of mankind and would call for community involvement in the
needs of all of mankind, Rabbi Akivas verse is more exclusive. The verse Ve-ahavta calls
for a unique relationship to ones reia, ones fellow and coreligionist. As the Malbim noted that the verse of
Ben Azzai, addressing the creation of man, stresses the unity of humanity, the
idea of treating ones fellow Jew kamokha, as yourself, expresses a
unique identification. This idea of
the unity of the Jewish people is expressed clearly in Rav Moshe Cordoveros
Tomer Devora (1:4):
All Jews are
blood relatives to one another, for their souls are all intertwined: each one
has a portion of each others soul. Therefore,
one cannot compare a situation in which one does a mitzva to one in which many
perform a mitzva, because all Jews are one unit.
The unique
relationship that each Jew has with his fellow Jew is expressed beautifully in
his response to a query sent to Rav Soloveitchik by his friend, Rav Shlomo
Zalman Shragai. His response,
published in Community, Covenant and Commitment (page 333), is
fascinating, as he writes that he does not even accept the question of how one
can favor specific individuals.
I do not comprehend the nature of your inquiry
regarding the love of ones fellow Jew.
What is the contradiction between the commandment Love thy neighbor as
thyself and the internal emotional instinct to love the members of the group
one is connected to, in our case- the nation?
All interpersonal commandments (at least the
overwhelming majority) correspond to internal emotional instincts that operate
in the consciousness of the human being, and were they not given [as commands]
they would have been worthy to have been given and we would have derived them
from the natural world which surrounds and envelops us, and from our internal
world, as is mentioned by Chazal in numerous places. Thus the command to love ones
neighbor is subsumed under laws that go hand in hand with the natural feelings
of justice and mercy.
However, when the Jewish people were commanded
regarding the rational laws, two new concepts were introduced: (1) an
internal-natural instinct was transformed into a divinely revealed command. (2) The normative field of operation
was expanded and deepened and reached the depths of the farthest boundaries of
idealism, which are unknown to the psychological instincts and predilections. For example, the natural love of the
members of ones group is simply a feeling of solidarity that emerges from a
shared sense of history and fate. In
truth, this love is really, in its uniqueness self-love. The act of projection brings the I
who is loved by himself, to the other, for he sees a mirror of himself in the
other. This egotistical connection
does not obligate the person in action toward the other individual. Only at the moment when the entire
group is threatened with destruction does there emerge this sense of solidarity,
causing the person to act even to the point of self-sacrifice.
However, the command Love thy neighbor as thyself
(in all its meanings, whether as per Hillel the elder in its negative sense, or
in its positive meaning as formulated in the Rambams code , Hilkhot Avel,
chapter 14) demands of the individual a non-egotistical love toward the other,
and obligates the individual to perform concrete actions. According to the Rambam (in
Hilkhot Avel) the love for the other is the basis for all of society,
therefore, the love of ones fellow Jew is achieved only through sacrifice and
hard work. It is an extremely exalted level of morality
Personal Growth and Communal Responsibility
One of the most practical
applications of expressing ones concern for the community is through dealing
with tzorkhei tzibbur, community service.
The Yerushalmi
(Berakhot 5:1) equates community service with the study of Torah in regards to ones ability to
continue their community service even if one will miss the recital of Shema
in its proper time. The Mechabber (OC
70:4) codifies this principle, and he adds (OC 284:7) that it is a proper
custom to bless everyone who acts as a caretaker of the community (osek
be-tzorkhei tzibbur) during the Shabbat prayer service.
However, we
often face a dilemma: how to balance ones desire to assume communal
responsibility with ones personal desire for growth.
While some sources would seem to indicate that one
who is involved in Torah study should only do so when others are not taking the
lead, other sources seem to maintain that everyone must be willing to put some
personal growth aside for the good of the community.
The Mishna (Avot 2:5) states: "In a place
where there are no men, strive to be a man." Rashi
explains:
Strive to occupy yourself with the needs of the
community, but in a place where there is a man, you should occupy yourself in
your Torah.
HaRav Yehuda Amital, of
blessed memory, founded Yeshivat Har Etzion on the principle of ensuring that
ones aims of spiritual growth not lead one to ignore the communitys cry. He writes:
When Yeshivat Har Etzion was first established, I was
asked what would be special about our yeshiva. I related the story told about
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Admor ha-Zaken), author of the
Tanya, who was once studying Torah in his room, when all of a sudden, he
heard his infant grandson, the future author of the Tzemach Tzedek,
crying in his cradle. The Rebbe closed his Gemara, went into the baby's room and
soothed him back to sleep. He then went into the adjoining room, where he found
his son, the baby's father (known as the "middle Rebbe"), steeped in Torah
study. The Rebbe turned to his son in astonishment and asked: "Why didn't you
get up to pacify your crying son?"
The bewildered son looked up and answered: "I was so
immersed in my study that I didn't even hear him cry."
The Rebbe then declared: "If someone is studying
Torah, and fails to hear the crying of a Jewish baby, there is something very
wrong with his learning."
This has been the message of our yeshiva from its very
establishment: to be attentive to the crying child, in the widest sense of
"crying" - that is to say, to be alert to the needs of the Jewish people.
(Jewish Values in a Changing World, p. 157)
Thus, one must put aside ones studies in order to
do hear the cry of the Jewish people.
Rav Shimon Shkop (In his introduction to Shaarei
Yosher) understands Kedoshim tihyu as the religious
calling for community involvement and a mindset constantly concerned with the
needs of the community:
And so, it appears to my limited thought that this
mitzva includes the entire foundation and root of the purpose of our
lives. All of our work and effort should
constantly be sanctified towards doing good for the community.
We should not use any act or movement,
nor should we receive benefit or enjoyment, from anything that does not have in
it some element of helping another. As understood, all holiness is being set
apart for an honorable purpose this means that a person straightens his path
and strives constantly to make his lifestyle dedicated to the community. Then,
anything he does, even for himself, for the health of his body and soul, he also
associates himself with the mitzva of being holy, for through this, he can also
do good for the masses. Through the good he does for himself, he can do good for
the many who rely on him. However, if he derives benefit from some kind of
permissible thing that is not needed for the health of his body and soul, that
benefit is in opposition to holiness. For in this he is benefiting himself (for
that moment, as it seems to him), but no one else
.
In my opinion, this idea is hinted at in Hillels
words (Avot 1:14), as he used to say, If I am not for me, who will be
for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? It
is fitting for each person to strive to be concerned for his welfare;
simultaneously, he must also strive to understand that when I am for myself,
what am I? If he constricts his I to a
narrow domain, limited to what the eye can see, then his I what is it?
It is shallow and inconsequential.
However, if his feelings are broader and
include [all of] creation, seeing that he is a great person and also like a
small limb in this great body, then he is lofty and of great worth.
In a great engine, even the smallest
screw is important if it serves even the smallest role in the engine. For the
whole is made of parts, and no more than the sum of its parts.
Rav Shimon Shkop concludes that Kedoshim tihyu
is a directive to be community-oriented and community-driven. This call lies at
the heart of numerous Talmudic statements with practical significance:
With this idea one can understand how charity has
the effect of enriching the one who performs it, as the Sages say (Shabbat
119a), You shall surely tithe (Asser teasser, Devarim 14:22)
Tithe (asser), so that you shall become rich (titasher).
Someone who is appointed over a small
part of the national treasury and does a good job fulfilling his duty, he will
next be appointed to oversee a sum greater than that, if he is not promoted in
some other way. If they find a flaw in his guard duty, no fine qualities to be
found in him will help, and they will demote him to a smaller task. Similarly,
the treasuries of heaven are given to man. If he tithes appropriately, he
satisfies his job of disbursement as he is supposed to conduct himself,
according to the Torah, giving to each as is appropriate, according to the
teachings of the Torah. As a result,
he will become wealthy and be appointed to disburse a greater treasure. And so
on, upward and upward, so that he can fulfill his lofty desire to do good for
the masses through his stewardship of the treasury. In this way, a man of
reliable spirit does the will of his Maker
The allotment to individuals is only
in their role as caretakers, until they divide it to those who need it, to each
according to what is worthy for him, taking for themselves what is worthy for
themselves.
Willingness to Sacrifice Spiritually on Behalf of the Community
Public service presents a dilemma: it often extracts
a spiritual price, as the time spent achieving communal needs often comes at the
expense of ones own personal development. Rav Amital (loc. cit.) points
out that the spiritual quandary of many who are communally active is expressed
by the Mishna in Avot (2:2) by Rabban Gamliel, the son of Rabbi Yehuda
the Nasi, but the promise is that God will analyze ones achievements in
a beneficial manner:
Let all those who occupy
themselves with the community do so only for the sake of Heaven, for the merit
of their fathers will sustain them, and their devotion to duty will endure
forever. "But as for you, I credit you with great reward, as if you had
accomplished it."
The Rambam explains (in his commentary to the
Mishna, ad loc.):
"I credit you with great
reward, as if you had accomplished it." These
are the words of God to those who toil on behalf of the community, for they are
sometimes prevented from performing a mitzva when they occupy themselves
with the community. God, Blessed be He, says that He will credit them with
reward as if they had performed the mitzva, even though they have not done it,
since they occupy themselves with the heavenly affairs of the community.
Besides finding time to get personally involved in
the needs of the community, there is also tremendous importance in showing
appreciation of those who give extensively of their time for communal needs. This is seemingly part of the basis
of the weekly prayer said on Shabbat:
And for all those who are involved faithfully in the
needs of the community, may the Holy One, Blessed be He, pay their reward and
remove them from every affliction
This prayer acknowledges that God will pay their
reward, but it is worthwhile to walk in Gods ways and to show appreciation and
the willingness to reward the caretakers of our communities.
***************************
This lesson is the last one for the current VBM
session; with Gods help the series will continue next year. We have tried to
articulate the centrality of interpersonal mitzvot in the overall context
of Judaism in a way that also expressed the depth of these mitzvot and
themes. The various interpersonal directives not only guide behavior, but also
develop the philosophical underpinnings for an elevated, holy tradition. The
lessons attempted to convey the unique contribution of the interpersonal
directives in developing the overall religious character that a Jew should
ideally espouse: Walking in the ways of God, as a Kadosh committed to
finding the proper balance of individual growth and work on behalf of the
community.
Fortunately, the Torah expresses its commitment to
providing the guidelines for religiously driven, interpersonal perfection in
numerous contexts, enabling one who decides to study the subject matter to gain
indispensable knowledge in this essential enterprise. However, the volume of
material has made it difficult to delve into all the interpersonal, moral and
ethical issues that we wished to discuss.
Next years lessons will focus on various topics
that have not been covered while simultaneously developing the framework for
inculcating these elements along with the ones we have begun discussing into a
life of interpersonal precision with Torah based ethics. Hope to meet you again
then. Wishing you a pleasant summer, Binyamin Zimmerman
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