Last Shabbat we read: “You who hold fast to the Lord your God, are all alive today”. We recite this verse every time the Torah is read publicly, which implies that “holding fast” to God is expressed first and foremost by internalizing the words of the Torah and living by its commandments.
Cleaving to God and Torah are certainly worthwhile, but one dimensional and exaggerated adherence to any one value may well lead to disastrous consequences. For example, it seems to me that an obsessive commitment to the value of the holiness of the Land of Israel often leads to justifications of racist statements and even to acts of violence and cruelty…
We also read last Shabbat: “Do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you and that you may be able to possess the Land …”. On this verse Rashi comments: “What is right and good – this means to compromise, to go beyond what is required.” Yes, often what is needed is to compromise, in order to take into account the needs and desires of others, as well as the demands implicit in other important values. This requires an ability to “dance” between the need to hold fast to fundamental values, while maintaining flexibility in thought and in action. Jewish history provides many examples of creative thinking and adaptation to changing needs and circumstances. These abilities are vital today as well, for our social and spiritual resilience!
