Daily Life Lessons from Rabbi Heschel
Year 2 Day 135
“Does not goodness tend to turn impotent in the face of temptations? Crime, vice, sin offer us rewards; while virtue demands self-restraint, self-denial. Sin is thrilling and full of excitement. Is virtue thrilling? Are there many mystery stories that describe virtue? Are there many best-selling novels that portray adventures in goodness?” (God in Search of Man pg. 374)
Rabbi Heschel is reminding us of the thrill and excitement most people get when they are engaged in “sketchy” activities. “Getting over” is one of the most enjoyable activities for many people. We see this around Income Tax time when everyone wants to fudge at least a little on their taxes so they don’t have to pay as much and/or get a refund. We see this in the way business’ pay lobbyists so they can maximize profits while minimizing regulations and taxes. We see this in the way the tax code works against the poor and the middle class in favor of the wealthy, as the Tax Bill of Paul Ryan passed.
We see this in the way people like George Santos lie to get elected and, when found out, just smile and say ‘oh well’. We are watching this with the so-called ‘freedom caucus’ who want to divorce blue states and red states, who still claim the 2020 election was stolen, the Insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021 was actually people who just wanted to visit the Capital Building, etc. Some of us are witnesses to the joy of people who continue to lie, cheat, steal with impunity and wring our hands in distress as to what is happening to our country. Some of us are adherents to those same people and cheer them on. We are all witnesses to the assault on truth and facts, yet too many of us fail to have the courage of to stand up for truth, to stand up for facts. We can disagree on our interpretations of facts, yet changing them to “alternative facts” gives so many people a thrill and they get so animated and excited that truth means nothing to them!
We get a thrill from so many ‘sins’ and ego boosting activities that we have become unaware of the difference between sin and virtue, I am afraid. We are living in a world that thrives on alternate realities and too many of us are willing to say, “well that is their truth” knowing that people are basing “their truth” on falsehoods, on clean-ups for their bad behaviors, on lies they have told themselves and deceptions they have bought into. Kevin McCarthy’s defense of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s lies and deceptions, his assault on the truth of what happened on Jan.6th, 2021, his willingness to get into bed with racists, antisemites, religious charlatans, gives him joy. He is animated and excited when he is doing this, Jim Jordan loves to hear himself talk and his mendacious behaviors give bring him and his buddies great joy. We see McCarthy, et al call people liars who tell the truth and deny the very words they have spoken. While this is not a new phenomena, it is at a fever pitch right now.
Caring for the poor, the stranger, the needy which is embedded in Scriptures has no meaning for many people, especially the so-called religious right. “Love thy neighbor as you love yourself” is meaningless to people who are calling for cuts to Social Security and Medicare, which McCarthy et al have done, are doing, and will do. Calling them entitlements is ridiculous since we have all paid into these programs, yet they seem to have a spiritual experience denying care for the needy and poor, they believe they are acting as Jesus did when they debase the stranger. While it is important to point out these actions, it is equally important to point out our own subtle and not-so subtle ways of being excited at our own sins. When we look down upon another person, when we feel good because someone else lost, when we ignore the divine image in every person, when we celebrate ‘jewing someone down’, when we fail to support and defend freedom, when we ‘go along to get along’ and so many more everyday actions that we don’t think of as sins.
My past is replete with experiences of excitement and thrill at ‘getting over’, committing sins and I have engaged in T’Shuvah for those actions. I have also, with the help of Rabbi Heschel, Rabbis Feinstein, Silverman, Omer-man, my sponsors, my recovery program, the myriad of people I have met during my career, my family, my daughter, my wife, emptied my heart of the need to get even, the need to sin at any and all costs, the need to deny, the need to resent, etc. I still sin and, while it may bring a momentary thrill, it brings remorse and a commitment to repair, change and have a new response. Recovery through Torah and 12-Steps helps me find the excitement and thrill in virtue much more than in sin, it has changed me from being oblivious to my sins to aware of how I can help and be of service in this moment instead. God Bless an stay safe, Rabbi Mark.