How many times have you heard the statement that every Jew is responsible for every other Jew?
We’ve probably all heard it — and promptly dismissed the notion as unrealistic. Being accountable for our entire people is an enormous responsibility. It’s hard enough being responsible for just ourselves and for our families.
However, the Torah is clear on this concept. We sink or swim together.
On the Shabbat of May 21, we’ll read a troubling section of Torah known as the Toche’cha, or rebuke.
The Torah portion, Bechukotai, starts positively in Leviticus 26:3: “If you follow my laws and faithfully observe My commandments, I will grant your rains in their season…” The text continues with a short but comprehensive list of blessings.
A few verses later, the good will dissipates into a lengthy tirade: The Master of the Universe warns: “If you don’t obey me and do not observe all these commandments … if you reject My laws … and spurn My rules…” disaster will befall you.
Moreover, the more we solidify our negative behavior, the worse the punishments become. The curses culminate with exile and the desolation of the land of Israel.
Perhaps the worst punishment of all is terror. Not fear in the normal sense. God warns that we’ll become afraid even without a reason.
For example, Leviticus 26:36 says: “The sound of a fluttering leaf will put them to flight; they will flee as if they were fleeing from the sword; and they will fall, even though no one pursues.”
The text continues: “And they will stumble on each other, as before the sword … even though know one pursues.”
Strange as it may seem, this is where we learn about our mutual responsibility. Here’s where the English translation fails us. These blessings and curses are not addressed to the individual. They are the plural you. They are literally addressed to the entire community of Israel.
The Talmud (Sanhedrin 27b) explains that one stumbles through the sin of the other, teaching that all are held responsible for one another. This is a profound statement about the way our world operates.
Let’s look at how things take shape. Where did German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler get his ideas? Did he just wake up one morning and decide that the Final Solution — the attempted murder of all Europe’s Jews — was a good idea?
To understand Hitler, we have to go back through European history and a lengthy heritage of anti-Semitism. We have to specifically look at Karl von Leuger, a mayor of Vienna in the late nineteenth century. Von Leuger manipulated anti-Jewish fervor into his own political victory. The young Hitler paid attention.
“One stumbled through the sins of the other” and set off a chain reaction. Millions died because of this spreading incitement.
Hitler’s example is dramatic. It’s important to note that the Final Solution didn’t start on a global level. It started with individuals who incited other individuals over a number of years.
We don’t know where our words will land.
We catch our child “stretching” the truth. Suppose our reaction is to say: I can’t ever trust you; you always lie to me. Suppose it happens again, and our reaction is even more forceful. We affirm that this child is a chronic liar.
The more the child hears that he “always” lies, he will probably come to definite himself as a liar. What then? Will he even bother trying to be honest? Or will deception become a way of life for him? Will he lead others astray as he grows?
One small word itself can be a stumbling block and set off a chain reaction.
The good news: evil propagates itself this way, but so does goodness. One kind word or thoughtful action can make all the difference in someone’s life. That person then goes on to influence others in paths of goodness.
As we quoted earlier from the Talmud: “one stumbles through the sin of the other, teaching that all are held responsible for one another…”
The opposite is also true. One grows through the goodness of the other and so affects others for blessing. This also results in all being held responsible for one another.
A thoughtless, angry word could incite a potential Hitler or Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh; but a kind word, or thoughtful gesture could inspire a person to strive to be a tzadik, a righteous person.
When we realize that one word, one action on our part can reverberate through many people for countless generations, we can’t help but realize that the Talmud is correct when it says: All Israel is surety for one another. May we be worthy of this responsibility.
Rabbi Shaina Bacharach is spiritual leader of Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay.
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