In confronting daily struggles, some people remain apathetic
and ignore them, hoping the problems will go away; others, confront the issues
with full force, at times, even acting blindly and with anger; however, the
best way is to take the middle road and resolve them by learning how to live
with the ambiguities of life.
Thus, for example, the prophet
Ezekiel criticizes those people “who have eyes to see but see not, ears to hear
but hear not” (12: 2). Biblical law decries this uncaring attitude and, in
fact, states, “You shall not stand (idly) by the blood of your neighbor” (Lev.
19: 16; cf. Rashi based on the Sifra).
At the other extreme, the zealot is
characterized in the biblical tradition by the hot-blooded Phineas, the grandson
of Aaron, who attacked and killed a non-Jewish woman and her Jewish husband in
their tent, presumably because of some idolatrous practice, thus putting an end
to a plague. For this act, Phineas received God’s “pact of friendship” (beriti
shalom) as well as “a pact of priesthood” (berit kehunat olam) for
all time (Num. 25:12). Later rabbinic tradition shows a great deal of
ambivalence regarding Phineas, some considering him a hero, while others view
him as a dangerous fanatic who needs to
be contained (See, for ex., “Coping with Zeal,” N. Leibowitz, Studies in
Bamidbar, 328.ff). I still remember Barry Goldwater’s acceptance speech at
the Republican convention of 1964 when he said: “extremism in the defense of
liberty is no vice.” I disagree: extremism is always a vice.
Between these two poles, the medieval
Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, suggests a third option. He calls it “the
middle road,” or “the happy medium” (midah benonit). He says this is the
most desirable path, as it requires the individual “to be angry only for a
grave cause that rightly calls for indignation, so that the like shall not be
done again” (Mishneh Torah, Knowledge: 1: 4).
I admit that the “middle road” is
not an easy path, because it requires the individual to learn how to live with
lack of precision and within the shades of gray. Some people simply cannot
handle it. They want clear and cut answers. It is “yes” or “no.” Life, however,
is never “black and white.” It is not
always an uphill road. It meanders; there are low points followed by great
achievements. As we become more mature, we all need to learn how to live with
uncertainties, with sudden deviations, with momentary greatness, with long
range goals and broad perspectives, so that when we look back, we can say, “Not
bad; I did all right.”
Apathy is inhuman. Extremism is
easy but dangerous; it is even arrogant. The middle road, though far from being
smooth, is wholesome. Thus, Maimonides suggests that those who follow it should
not be “tight-fisted nor a spendthrift…neither frivolous and given to jesting,
not mournful and melancholy” (idem). He ends by saying that those who
follow the “middle road” are termed “wise.”
Regrettably in our time, especially
in the political scene, many people choose an extreme path. They view
themselves as saints and consider others as villains. It is regrettable that the social
and political agendas of many societies have now been high jacked by narrow-minded
fanatics. Many countries in the world (e.g. the Middle East, Latin America,
Eastern Europe) are suffering because of this malaise. This is not helpful. It
is simply wrong.
So, don’t be an apathetic person,
ignoring what is going on around you. On the other hand, stay away from intolerance,
because it only leads to mental blindness. The middle road is the wholesome
road.
Rifat Sonsino
Oct. 2014
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