Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on March 25, 2015

Roy Folkman. Photo from Wikipedia

Mordechai Bar-Or, founder of KOLOT, wrote this on the election to the Knesset of his friend Roy Folkman, a member of the Kulanu party.

Dear Roy,

How exciting and moving to know you have become a Member of the Knesset! You've entered into a difficult and complex situation during complicated times. Yet I fully believe in you. You stand for a public seeking a different leadership. Allow me to congratulate you with a few words:

I must admit that the weeks leading to the elections were hard for me. As a society we have committed the "sin of (wrongful) speech", reaching the lowest levels we have yet known.

There has been virtually no ideological exchange. We heard nothing regarding vision. Media consultants squashed any possibility of serious and difficult dialogues in which one sees the face of the other even when basic disagreements exist between them.

The elections showed us, once again, that we are reinforcing the culture of two camps within us. In the days of the First Temple they were called "Judah" and "Israel". These camps had very different narratives. And we know all too well that it was not the 'Iranian' enemy that destroyed our home

I am not among the celebrators in the "Judah" camp. And yet, I do not find myself cynical or pessimistic as many of "Israel" feel. What concerns me is the lack of soul-searching within the Israeli society. I view a social/political difficulty as an invitation to assemble together, to view the "other" as a mirror of myself, for everything that happens to us as individuals or as a society are opportunities for inner learning andTikkun.

In the first lesson of our "Kolot" group we studied a segment from the Talmud's Tractate Makot 24. The primary issue there led to a process by which the 613 mitzvahs were reduced to principles and pillars, a few pillars containing so very much. This complex and fascinating process ends with just one single, intense and charged principal: "And the righteous shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk ch. 2)

This verse is supposed to contain the entire Torah. Many are acquainted with the story of Hillel the Elder who, when challenged to teach the entire Torah while standing on one foot, answered: "What is hateful unto you do not do to your friend". This was the very basis of the entire Torah, a clear and significant message. But what is the meaning of "And the righteous shall live by his faith"?

Originally posted here:

My prayer for an incoming Knesset member

Category: Talmud
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