Page 52 - HaMizrachi #27 Purim USA 2021

PURIM READING

Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm

rabbi norman lamm ל"צז on

Purim’s Call for Responsibility

n a 1972 address, Rabbi Lamm tack- In Rabbi Lamm’s interpretation, Adam Sabbath as we should? Do we observe
led the problem of how to adjudicate too had everything, and yet could not the Jewish holidays as we should? If we
Iclashing preferences in society. What resist eating from the one tree from wish for our values to be taken seriously
happens, say, when one group within which G-d had forbidden him to eat. By in the public discourse, we Jews must
the American body politic believes it contrast to Haman and Adam, Morde- be sure consistently to set the highest
has been wronged, but its preferred chai dedicated his life not to fulfilling his expectations for our own adherence to
remedies seem to come at some other personal desires and achieving his own
group’s expense? In the wake of the late political advancement, but to defending those values.
’60s, Rabbi Lamm, in part, had in mind his people and uplifting society. This is The Jewish people, and all of society,
tensions between black and Jewish com- why the characteristic commandments face new challenges in emotionally
munal activists. While he believed it was of Purim are mishloach manot and mat- and psychologically ambiguous times.
almost certainly impossible for everyone anot la’evyonim, giving material suste- Humanity is in the grips of a global pan-
to get what they want, he was also con- nance and financial support to others. demic, and American civic discourse has
vinced that each party could genuinely For Rabbi Lamm, Purim was not only a become dangerously frayed. On a daily
claim justice for its position. In order to call to pay greater attention to individ- basis we are deluged by righteous claims
address this conundrum, the best we can ual morality. He believed that Purim’s and counterclaims by one or another
do is to direct our high expectations not ethic of personal responsibility should political, social, or cultural group. Now,
at others, but at ourselves. also serve as a guiding principle for
In a characteristic passage, Rabbi Lamm Jewish engagement in the debates over more than ever, it is not clear where is
here and where is there. At a time like
argued that “Immature Man imposes his American social politics. Recall that
rising expectations on others: his wife, he composed “Rising Expec- this, Rabbi Lamm’s interpre-
his family, his society.” By contrast, he tations” during the heyday of tation of Purim as a manual
continued, “Mature Man subjects not Jewish liberal politics in the for regular decision-making
others but himself to the critique of 1970s, when many leading is as essential as ever. As he
rising expectations: what more can I American Jewish activists were taught us, ambiguous times
give to the world, to family, to children, deeply concerned to promote are our best opportunities
to my people, to humanity and G-d and a radical separation between to make morally mean-
Torah? In what way, he constantly asks church and state. In the course ingful choices. We must
himself, have I made the world a better of his intellectual career, Rabbi resolve to assume personal
place to live in than the state in which I Lamm frequently expressed responsibility – whether as
found it when I entered it?” his frustration that such individuals, a community,
Rabbi Lamm anchored this point in efforts appeared unac- or a nation – for acting
a careful analysis of the differences companied by a commit- virtuously. And we must
between Haman and Mordechai. In ment to the Jewish traditions direct our highest spiritual
particular, he noted that Haman’s career they were supposed to protect.
was characterized by constant demands In this particular sermon, Rabbi Lamm expectations squarely at ourselves.
of others. Haman had everything his gave stern voice to this concern. Instead Adapted from “Esther in America,” edited by
heart could possibly desire – a loving of agitating against Sunday Blue Laws Rabbi Stuart Halpern (Maggid Books).
family and high political office with all and sectarian practices in public Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm is Chief Executive of Bnai
its attendant prestige. But still, he could schools, he stressed, we should ask our- Zion and Founder of The Joshua Project.
not abide one lonely Jew who failed to selves whether or not we, in our own Rabbi Stuart Halpern serves on the National
show the proper obsequiousness. It is for conduct, demonstrate sufficient care for Board of RZA–Mizrachi. Rabbi Dr. Norman
this reason that the Talmud compared the spiritual values that such policies Lamm served as Honorary President of
Haman to Adam (Chullin 139b). purportedly threaten. Do we keep the RZA–Mizrachi.

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