During my sixteen-year tenure as
the rabbi of Beth Israel Synagogue, the premier shul in Alberta, Canada, I
enjoyed wonderful relationships with government leaders across the political
spectrum. Over those years, between the
country and the province, the three major political parties held power at
various points.
Despite my personal political
proclivities, I am proud of the friendships I forged with members of all
parties. In almost all cases, these were
very decent, hardworking people, honestly seeking to serve the people of Canada
to the very best of their ability. We
were blessed to host in our home, for Shabbat and Jewish festivals, leaders of
the city of Edmonton, the province of Alberta, and the nation of Canada of all
political stripes.
Of these amazing individuals that I
encountered over the years, some are still politicians while others have since
left the field. But I am fortunate to have
friends for life of the highest calibre from every walk of life. I have deep and heartfelt respect for each
and every of them, even if I might disagree with a good many of them
ideologically!
וְאָמַר רָבָא בַּר
מַחְסֵיָא אָמַר רַב חָמָא בַּר גּוּרְיָא אָמַר רַב: אִם יִהְיוּ כׇּל הַיָּמִים
דְּיוֹ, וַאֲגַמִּים קוּלְמוֹסִים, וְשָׁמַיִם יְרִיעוֹת, וְכׇל בְּנֵי אָדָם
לַבְלָרִין — אֵין מַסְפִּיקִים לִכְתּוֹב חֲלָלָהּ שֶׁל רְשׁוּת. מַאי קְרָאָה
אָמַר רַב מְשַׁרְשְׁיָא: ״שָׁמַיִם לָרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעוֹמֶק וְלֵב מְלָכִים אֵין
חֵקֶר״
Rava bar Mecḥasia taught in the
name of Rav Chama bar Guria quoting Rav: Even if all the seas would be ink, and
the (reeds in) swamps would be quills, and the heavens would be parchment, and
all the people would be scribes; all of these would be insufficient to explain
the depths of governmental authority.
Rav Mesharshia said: What is the verse that alludes to this? “As the
heavens above and to the depths of the Earth, are the hearts of kings
unfathomable.”
The Maharal of Prague explains that
this teaching is referring to the authority of the ultimate governing authority
– the Almighty’s dominion over the world.
No amount of presentation could explain the ways of Hashem and the way
He conducts this world.
This message is of the utmost
importance, particularly during times of global crisis, such as the Coronavirus
that has now gripped the world with fear.
Recently a prominent rabbi in Israel suggested a completely random and
inappropriate reason for the virus. But
Rav makes it clear that any attempt to explain God’s ways is not just arrogant. It is absolutely wrong. We hope and pray that Heaven end this
unfathomable hester panim – hiding of God’s face, as it were – and
restore the health of thousands of afflicted people across the globe.
While the Maharal interprets the
Gemara as referring to God’s ways, many of the commentators understand the
Gemara literally. Even mortal government
workings are, to a certain extent, incomprehensible. That’s also very important to bear in mind
during times of crisis such as the current one.
Many people are quick to criticize the response of their respective
governments to the pandemic or other national crises. They offer myriad reasons and explanations
why the government should be acting differently.
Rav’s point is that you could
theorize all day long and write down every alternative scenario you could think
of, but you are not privy to the information that the government has. The ruling power of a functioning
nation-state, one hopes, is basing its decisions on guidance from top advisers
in the medical, intelligence, economic, and environmental fields, to name but a
few. We don’t have such
information. And so offering our
criticism and alternative solutions is, once again, a display of
arrogance.
One of the challenges of our
generation is the inability to accept the outcomes of the democratic political
process. In most western countries, we
have the ability to replace our governments every few years. During the period of political campaigns, we
have every right to express our views and question the performance record of
the sitting government. But if the
government is being criticized from the moment of its induction, how is it
meant to run the country effectively?
Instead of focusing on the needs of the nation, too many naysayers
insist that they know better than the experts advising the sitting
government. Consequently, they end up occupying
the government’s focus and resources with their incessant political attacks,
leaving little time for the government to get on with doing the job it has been
elected to carry out.
Of course, any democratic system
requires a robust opposition party. But
the role of the opposition is to keep the sitting government ever-accountable. Not to criticize their policies simply
because they have a differing ideology.
And certainly not because they just don’t like them personally. They will have their opportunity to take the
country in a different direction, should the sitting government fail the
people. In the meantime, the opposition
should aim to keep the government honest, while respecting the fact that they
may possess greater information and insight than meets the eye.
I am proud of the friendships I
made with leaders of varying political views over the years. I am even prouder that I never allowed my own
political perspectives colour my ability to respect and support those with
differing ideologies. Just as we must be
tolerant of others’ views, we must be respectful of the democratic process that
brought our elected officials to power.
Disrespecting our democratically-elected officials is an affront to
democracy itself.
Government leaders are faced with
incredible pressure and demands on a daily basis. They won’t always get it right. But belief in the democratic system implies
belief that the government is acting upon the best information available. May you always display the humility that
democracy requires and support the national interest as defined by whoever the
democratically-elected government may be!
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