Timeless Torah

Fanaticism is out. Radicals and extremes are unhealthy. Too far to the left is politically incorrect. But the again, so is too far to the right. Just ask Bill Clinton who understands our need to be centrist. Or refer to the growing number of moderates on both sides of the political debate. Middle of the road, might not be a good idea for those crossing a busy street, but in life that’s how you get ahead. So decrees contemporary society.
However, as this week’s Biblical portion clearly indicates, this is not valid for the people of Israel. Following the middle road is not always possible, neither for us nor for G-d as He conducts the affairs of His Chosen people. This observation is based upon the opening verse of the Parsha, “See! I am setting before you this day a blessing and a curse.” As the commentaries remark that the Children of Israel cannot live out their lives in a prosaic, conventional manner. When they deserve it, they are showered with bounties to the highest degree; and when they sin, they sink to the nadir of privation and adversity. Curse or blessing, poverty or overabundance, the so called ordinary patterns of life are denied to us.
Our role is too important for us to be allowed the easy path of centrism. This is forcefully demonstrated by the Midrash on this verse: The sword and the Torah came down together from Heaven. If you listen to this Book, you will be exalted; if not, you will be killed....This is compared to a servant whose master told him, “Choose between the golden necklace or the iron chains.”
The veracity of this Midrash has been taught to us over and over again throughout our long and sometimes tortuous history. This truth however should not be viewed negatively. God’s concern for his people is so obvious that it should compel us to strive for perfection or suffer the consequences.
Among other things the Messianic era is intended to be a remedy for the transgression of Adam. Eating of the Tree of Knowledge resulted in the intermingling of these two opposites; good and evil. Our job is to delineate and polarize these two forces so that the choice between them is clear. This is one reason why for the Jew it is increasingly difficult to straddle the middle line.
We, who see the options of the Torah versus the Sword must assume a definite position, a firm stand in our faith and commitment. If not we shall plummet into a bottomless chasm. Let us therefore make the obvious choice and make this week’s Biblical promise of the divine blessing our reality.