,•
Torah Portion
Morality And Ethics
Sustain Human Life
sources of blessing to those who possess
them. This insight is of special meaning
to our generation.
We live in a time when knowledge
has increased enormously, when a junior
high school student knows more about
the physical universe than the science
professor of 40 years ago. Wealth is
available in greater abundance today
n this week's sedrah, we read of an
than in any other time, for technology
intense conflict whose conse-
has made possible the production and
quences endured in the con-
distribution of goods on a scale more
sciousness of the Hebrew people.
vast than earlier generations could even
They had just arrived at the border of
imagine. The instruments of communi-
Canaan.
cation, the organization of
Two tribes, Gad and
society and the weapons of
Reuven, and a substantial por-
our time have provided incal-
tion of the tribe of Menasseh
culable power to political
saw that the area before them,
leaders.
trans-Jordan, was suitable for
How ironic that each of
their flocks and offered excel-
these gifts has created critical
lent grazing for:their cattle.
problems! We have enough
Consequently, these two and a
material abundance to elimi-
half tribes came to Moses and
nate poverty, and yet the per-
said, "We are not interested in
sistence of deprivation in the
entering the Land of Canaan.
midst of affluence breeds hos-
RABBI IRWIN
Do not move us across the
tility, resentment, and vio-
GRONER
Jordan. We have found a suit-
lence.
Special to the
able place for ourselves here."
The vast destructive power
Jewish News
This separate initiative
of atomic weaponry acquired
could have destroyed the gath-
by the major nations of the
ered strength of the people and
world has led them more than once to
undermined their resolve to inherit the
the brink of global catastrophe.
Promised Land. Moses, therefore, exact-
Knowledge has not been an unmixed
ed from these tribes a promise that they
blessing either. Too many knowledgeable
would join with their brethren in fight-
people have assumed the attitude of the
ing for the conquest of Canaan. Only
cynic, the person who knows the price
after the land had been won would they
of everything and the value of nothing.
be permitted to settle east of the Jordan.
The values that have traditionally sus-
Centuries later, as the sages consid-
tained human life — integrity, faith and
ered the fate of these two and a half
discipline — have eroded in an age
tribes, they noted: "These people were
marked by an explosion of knowledge
affluent and powerful, and they had
accompanied by moral confusion.
great flocks. Because they loved their
Our task is to meet the challenge
cattle so dearly, they dwelled East of the
faced by our ancestors. As we seek to
Jordan and did not enter the Land of
enter our Promised Land, we should uti-
Promise. Therefore, when the enemy
lize the great gifts the Divine providence
came, he attacked their exposed settle-
has placed in our hands for moral pur-
ments first and they went into exile
pose, for the enhancement of life, for the
before the other tribes."
will of Heaven. If not, we shall discover,
In their conclusion, the Sages
like the tribes of ancient Israel, that our
declared: "There are three great gifts that
bounty and privileges will not endure. ❑
we find in this world: wisdom, power,
and wealth. However, they will not
abide unless they express the will of
Heaven."
The Jew never looked with disdain
upon the material world. He never
cursed wealth; he never deprecated
Where do material gains fall in
power. He certainly aspired to knowl-
your list of priorities? Discuss the
edge. But he recognized that these gifts
things that seem to keep us from
do not necessarily yield fulfillment.
time with our families and how
Moral purpose and ethical direction are
we can modify these demands.
required in order to make these gifts
What should determine the priori-
ties in our lives?
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
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