This week we continue to discuss the problematic example of the people of Sodom and their outlook on life.. Michael (MichaelStrassfeld.com) mjstrassfeld@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A word of Torah:
The rabbis had a term for acting like the inhabitants of Sodom-- (midat s’dom). A classic source about acting in the manner of Sodom can be found in Ethics of our Ancestors (Pirkei Avot 5:12).
There are four character traits among people.
Some say: Mine is mine and yours is yours--this is the trait of the average.
Others say: This trait is characteristic of Sodom.
Mine is yours and yours is mine –this is the trait of an ignoramus.
Mine is yours and yours is yours –this is the trait of the saintly.
Yours is mine and mine is mine –this is the trait of the wicked.
The commentators discuss why the first category might be seen as similar to the attitude of the people of Sodom. It does seem like average people are neither generous or miserly. Is it really wrong to think that what is yours is yours?
The Talmud discusses a number of cases that define what it means to act like the people of Sodom. In one case, there is a family with two brothers, one of whom had bought a parcel of land adjacent to his father’s property. (Bava Batra 12b) When their father died, that brother said to his sibling: When our father’s estate is divided in equal parts, please assign me the land adjacent to my property. The other brother refused to do so. This refusal was considered acting like the people of Sodom. Why? Because all the parcels of land of their father’s estate were of equal value. For obvious reasons, one brother wanted the land to abut his existing property. It was a convenience to him with no loss to his brother. Midat s’dom is being ungenerous for no justifiable reason. It is just being spiteful and mean. Remarkably, the Talmud states that we compel (kofin) the brother to give him the parcel that abuts his land to prevent people from acting like the people of Sodom. Behaving like the people of Sodom could be perceived as being less than ideal. Instead, the tradition states we sometimes need to compel people to act in generous ways.
This may help us understand our original text. While it is legally correct that the things I own are mine, and your things are yours, when that attitude limits my concern only to my property and wellbeing, we have a problem. This is particularly true when being generous or helpful comes at no cost to yourself. Caring about others rather than just about yourself is the foundation for a moral society.
Intention/kavana for the week
If not now, when? The election results feel like a pulling back from the brink as America seemed to reject its worst impulses. From here to Kherson there is hope even as we know winter and darkness will still come. Hillel reminds us it is all about balance even as he instructs us to light an additional candle each night of Hanukkah to proclaim the miracle of freedom.
Song:
im ein ani li, mi li
ukhsheani leatzmi mah ani
ve-im lo akhshav eimatai
Hillel said:
If I am not for myself, who will be for me.
And if I am only for myself, what am I
And if not now when.
