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74igie pekkie. kfrut

There Is No Growth
Without Criticism

;

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What Moses was to his generation,
the Torah of Moses must be to every
generation. When religion begins to
soothe and flatter us, it is no longer
authentic. It is a form of ersatz thera-
py that cannot truly heal. It is
Balaam's voice that speaks.
At a time of sorrow, religion brings
t may come as a surprise that
solace and strength to many. But that
criticism and chastisement are
is not the only function of religion. It
not only regarded as virtues of
has been well stated, "The purpose of
Judaism, but are included
religion is to comfort the troubled and
among the 613 commandments of the
trouble the comfortable." The second
Torah.
may be more important than the first
Leviticus declares (19:14), "Thou
because the Torah sets a very
shalt surely rebuke thy
high standard for us. By
neighbor and not bear sin
identifying our imperfec-
because of him." We have a
tions, it urges us to improve.
responsibility to improve
The function of the prophet
and elevate the character of
is to chastise and rebuke in
others by the proper expres-
the name of a great ideal.
sion of admonition and
The moral imperative of
reproach.
criticism has a place in our
Criticism is not only a
daily lives. The sages said
commandment addressed to
that love which does not
the individual, but it is also
contain a measure of reproof
one of the major functions of RABBI IRWIN
isn't authentic love." Does
GRONER
religion. What is the Torah if
love mean a total acceptance
Special
to
not the hi ghest moral stan-
The Jewish News of one's partner, of one's
dard of lif? Therefore, the
children in everything they
Torah serves as goad and
do? Love which is authentic
critic; because it measures the distance
involves the recognition of the faults
between the ideal and the real, it
and weaknesses of those who are very
reveals to each of us our imperfec-
dear to us. If we truly love one anoth-
tions.
er, we seek to enhance the life of that
A powerful demonstration of this
significant other. When love is not
truth is conveyed by the Torah portion
blind but critical, when there is an
of this week which contrasts two fig-
effort made in the spirit of love for
ures, Baalam and Moses. Balaam was a
people to challenge each other, to
heathen prophet who was commis-
bring about greater realization of their
sioned by Balak, king of Moab, to put
human potential, then that love leads
a curse upon the Jewish people. Much
to growth, development and achieve-
to Balak's chagrin, Balaam blessed the
ment.
people. He exclaimed, "How beautiful
The best way to take criticism is
are your tents, 0 Jacob, your
constructively. No matter how deeply
dwellings, 0 Israel!"
it cuts, no matter how accurate the
On the other hand, Moses was per-
critic is, we need to recognize criticism
sistent, tenacious and sometimes mer-
in a positive way. We need to admit
ciless in his criticism of the people,
that we are not perfect.
accusing them of sinfulness, obstinacy
We have to be willing to admit to
and faithlessness.
ourselves, "I have faults of which I am
The judgement of history declares
not even aware. I need help to correct
Moses was the beloved prophet of
them." This is a hard but necessary_
truth, while the heathen prophet was
admission to make in order to achieve
known as Bilam Ha-rasha — Balaam
moral growth.
the wicked. The Jewish people through
This theme is so crucial because we
the centuries have revered the prophet
sometimes mistakenly believe to love
who was the critic and condemned the
one another, to respect one's country,
soothsayer who was the propagandist.
to support Israel means that there
Moses made out of a horde of slaves a
should never be words of criticism or
holy people; Balaam almost pushed
dissent or rebuke. A criticism of love
that people over the abyss of destruc-
and concern brings blessing. We need
tion by his cunning strategies of deceit
to learn how to offer criticism in the
and flattery.
spirit of friendship, understanding and

Shabbat Balak:
Numbers 22:2-25:9;
Micah 5:6-6:8.

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Irwin Groner is senior rabbi at

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