Torah Portion
•
The Measure Of Actions
Must Be Consistent
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Consider the following: Isn't it funny
that when the other fellow takes a long
time to do something, he's slow; when I
take a long time, I'm thorough. When
the other fellow doesn't do it, he's too
lazy; when I don't do it, I'm too busy.
When the other fellow states his side of
a question strongly, he is opinionated;
when I state my side, I'm being firm.
When the other fellow overlooks a few
week's Torah portion
rules of etiquette, he's rude; when I skip
efers to business practices in
a few of the rules, I'm original.
a ncient Israel.
ancient
Recently I came upon a store in
The text declares, "Thou
. northern Michigan which carries the
shalt not have in thy house diverse mea-
following sign, "We buy junk
sures, a great measure and a
we sell antiques."
small measure, a large weight
We have another set of
and a small weight. You
double standards: the values
should have a perfect weight
we profess and the values we
and a just weight that your
live by.
days may be long upon the
We extol self-control and
land, which God gives to
we practice self-indulgence.
you."
We proclaim brotherhood
This law addresses those
and we are guilty of preju-
engaged in commerce,
dice. We teach young people
admonishing them that their
the sanctity of human life
RABBI IRWIN
weights were to be precise. Ila
and
reverence for moral
GRO NER
person possessed different
ideals,
but the media portray
Spec ial to
kinds of weights, he could
the
themes
of brutality,
The Jew isI9 News
practice deception by purchas-
depravity and decadence in
ing his goods with a large
living color. We proclaim
weight and selling them with a small
ourselves a non-violent people, bud we
weight. Thus, he could purchase more
insist that each person is allowed to
than was rightfully his and sell less than
own his own gun.
the customer had paid for.
You and I are not guilty of all these
This commandment, which empha-
things, but collectively we share the
sizes the standards of business honesty,
responsibility for these double standards
has a larger meaning. It affirms the
— a responsibility not to be discharged
truth that our lives should be of one
by blaming our political leaders or the
standard. Life should not be composed
party in power.
of different measures and different judg-
On the international scene, we
ments that we apply to obtain condi-
observe different scales by which
tions and terms favorable to ourselves.
countries are measured. As Jews, we
One standard of justice and equity is to
have long recognized that the county
prevail for ourselves and others.
of Israel has had to cope with the dou-
One of the most serious charges that
ble standards of international judg-
can be levied against our age is that we
ment. When Israel was threatened
live by dual standards, individually, col-
with destruction by its Arab neigh-
lectively and nationally. How do we
bors, no nation came to its defense.
judge others and how do we judge our-
When Israel, having successfully
selves?
.
fought four wars for survival, contin-
We judge others by their deeds and
ues now its struggle to maintain secu-
by their outward actions and our judg-
rity in the presence of Arab hostility,
ments are harsh. We judge ourselves by
its actions are condemned. Justice for
our thought, intentions, hopes and feel-
ings.
When we commit an error, we are
kind to ourselves. We take into account
all of the extenuating circumstances, all
Can you think of any ways in
of our difficulties, problems and bur-
which we live by double stan-
dens. When we weigh the faults of oth-
danis? Do you believe that vie are
ers, we do not refrain from using a dif-
given contradictory messages by
ferent measure and putting a thumb on
our society? Why is the State of
the scale.
Israel especially aware of dual
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
standards by the United States?
Shabbat Ki Tetze:
Deuteronomy 21:10-
25:19; Isaiah 54:1-
55:5.
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