I want some balance in my life. Wouldn’t it be good to find some sort of balance in our human social broigus just the same way it exists in Nature?
Does anyone know a magic formula for equilibrium as defined by “acting forces that are cancelled by each other resulting in a stable balanced system”[1]?
Well, it seems, that magic formula is in chapter 24, verse 7 of Parashat Mishpatim (and we just read it in our Torah service!):
וַיִּקַּח֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית וַיִּקְרָ֖א בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה וְנִשְׁמָֽע׃
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud into the people’s ears. And they said, “All that יהוה has spoken we will do and hear!”
As you know the order of these two words is unusual because the Israelites promise first to do, to follow the commandments and only after to listen. It is confusing, isn’t it?
Professor Richard Freedman suggests that these two verbs come together because it might be that they were a known formula, constituting an oath of absolute obedience.”[2]
Indeed, the expression “Naaseh and nishma” – in Orthodox Judaism became the epitome of people’s commitment to the Torah. It is often translated as “we will do and obey.”
Rabbi Ronen Neuwirth, the founder and former head of the liberal religious-Zionist Beit Hillel organization in Israel and the author of the book called “The narrow Halachik Bridge: a Vision of Jewish Law in the Post-Modern Age” points out: “This proclamation, made by the people of Israel when they stood at Mount Sinai, is regarded as a national declaration of total subjugation to God’s will, accepting the Torah in its entirety without question.”[3]
It means that even when I don’t understand some of the laws or Jewish traditions I still have to do the mitzvot because maybe through doing them again and again an understanding will come. However, if one still does not understand why they should be doing certain mitzvot after doing them many times, they are not exempt from doing them.
There is a famous and popular Hebrew expression: ״למה?״ ״כך!״ meaning : Why? Because!
Rabbi Neuwirth laments that “today’s post-modern spirit” lacks unqualified obedience and instead offers “boundless pluralism and moral relativism, unlimited possibilities, and endless freedom.”[4]
I don’t consider “unqualified obedience” as a merit, however, at the danger of sounding like an old woman I would say that some young people these days do lack some boundaries. And being born in the Soviet Union I do value pluralism, freedoms, empathy and compassion.
At the same time, just as Rabbi Neuwirth I would not consider “boundless pluralism, moral relativism and endless freedom” as merits either.
The attitude of “Unqualified obedience” in our case of Torah laws can potentially lead in life to tyranny or dogmatism; boundless pluralism can lead to anarchy and social disorder. The magical point of functionality, balance and harmony in the society is not in being blindly obedient or utterly disobedient. The balance is in the middle, the balance is in equilibrium of any two polarities.[5]
For example, let’s take exercise and rest. They are two polarities in physical terms: one either exercises or rests. But if one only exercises, that person will quickly become exhausted and sick but someone who only rests, they can quickly become unfit, low in mood and potentially sick too. So, the actual equilibrium of these two polarities is in keeping balance between exercise and rest and not overdoing either of them.
So I think the secret, the magic of “Naaseh v’Nishma” formula is not a complete and full obedience of the authority as it is understood by some commentators and rabbinic authorities but a deep commitment to the Laws of the Torah, followed by action being balanced by a reflective and thoughtful approach to it – just exactly the way we do it in Progressive Judaism: we do but then stop and evaluate and reassess and adapt…or not!
One of the biggest challenges of our time is polarization in our society. Through the influence of media platforms we are exposed to our preferred choice of ideas, political agendas, religious affiliations and cultural conditioning. We become a “you are on my side or the enemy side” society. Undoubtedly, sometimes we have to make difficult choices and to choose one side over the other, one end of the issue or the other.
My interpretation of “Naaseh” in our Torah reading today urges us to do something about it. It is a call to action.
However, many dilemmas in the world are not just simple polarities. And that’s where we need “Nishma” as a pause to listen and think.
For example, I absolutely support refugees but I also acknowledge that if we want to welcome refugees we need to face and address the issues of infrastructure that we have and how we can increase its capacity if necessary.
I fully support the NHS and took part in many campaigns supporting nurses in particular but I also understand that the NHS system is so big that it requires a lot of rethinking to make it more functional as an organization.
I love Israel and would always support it. My heart was bleeding together with my family in Israel, and for all the Israeli people after the terror attacks by Hamas and the atrocities committed on October 7th. But at the same time, I also feel pain for all the Gazan people, who are trapped in Gaza between Hamas and the neighbouring countries who don’t want to provide refuge for them.
But please don’t cancel or hate me only because I see the human face on both sides. Human suffering does not know borders: in any conflict peace does not lie on one side of the conflict or the other. It lies in a desire and a consequent decision of both sides to enter into a relationship, which will bring two polarities, two extremes into an equilibrium of peace. That equilibrium is only possible if both sides, despite their many differences, are committed to maintain it.
So, whether it comes to global conflicts or our personal relationships we need to be ready not only for action and to prove that we are right but also to hear other truths and what other people think is right; to understand that the equilibrium lies in the balance of the polarities and the desire of those very different nations, groups or individuals to work together and counterbalance each other for creation of that fragile but much needed balance of peace and harmony in our relationships and in our world.
Naase v’Nishmah to us all!
