An Imperfect System

Parshas Yisro

Posted on February 3, 2021 (5781) By Rabbi Berel Wein | Series: Rabbi Wein | Level: Beginner

 

One of the basic lessons learned from this week’s Torah reading, though barely discussed by the commentators, is that there is no perfect system of justice if it involves human beings and judges. After the granting of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, our teacher Moshe allows himself to become the sole judge regarding disputes that arise in the camp of the Israelites. He is besieged by claimants and litigants from early morning until sunset. Naturally, anyone who had the ability to appear before such a judge as Moshe would wish to take advantage of that opportunity.

Though Moshe possesses supernatural wisdom and insight, he is known to be incorruptible, fair, equitable and decisive. What other qualities can one expect or hope for in a human judge? None. Nevertheless, as his father-in-law Yitro points out to him, the judge may be as perfect as can be, but the judicial system that Moshe has instituted is far from perfection. Yitro warns that by being the sole judge and having everyone wait their turn to have their claims adjudicated by him alone, both Moshe and the people will eventually become exhausted and wither away. What is needed is a tiered system of judges, courts, police, and other officials of the judicial system that must be appointed and empowered.

This signifies the creation of a bureaucracy, with all the attendant fields that it contains and necessarily entails. But it is the only practical way of dealing with this issue of sustainability that will allow Moshe and the people of Israel to continue to function. In effect we are being taught that attempting to achieve perfection in this instance will lead to exhaustion and eventual destruction.

One of the great lessons of the Revelation at Sinai was and is a simple basic understanding of the true nature of human beings, both individually and in society. The Lord is perfection, while humans are doomed to operate within an imperfect and frustrating world. Sometimes better is the enemy of good, in the attempt to achieve perfection, and only leads to greater imperfection, frustration and even violence.

Moshe aspired to give every Jew who came before him a perfect answer, a judgment that would harmonize with ultimate truth and nobility. He realized that this could not be done through the establishment of a bureaucracy. Within that system, there would be many cooks in the kitchen, and power would be diffuse. Personal interests could govern all decisions, no matter how noble the intent of the persons involved. His father-in-law agreed with Moshe’s goal, but Yitro told Moshe, based upon his own life experience as being the chief executive priest of Midian, that Moshe’s goal was unachievable in this world.

In this world one can only deal with practicalities, and practicalities always spell imperfection, compromise and the possibility for error and wrong decisions. But that is the human condition, and one must operate within that condition and accept imperfection as one of the basic tenets of human life and society.

Shabbat shalom

Take the Next Step

Parshas Yisro

Posted on February 12, 2020 (5780) By Torah.org | Series: Lifeline | Level: Beginner

 

What happens when you hear something that truly inspires you? What do you “take home” afterwards?

I once heard that there are three possible reactions people might have. Some will simply shrug it off, thinking, “it really wasn’t important to me, and won’t affect me tomorrow.” Another group will share it with others — they’ll “like” it on Facebook, perhaps even create a meme to share it with their contacts. Then there’s the last and smallest group: those who, upon hearing something that strikes them, will ponder the importance of what they’ve heard, and take action steps to internalize and live by the lessons they just learned.

Sharing is admirable, but we cannot imagine that we have “fulfilled our responsibility” by disseminating newfound wisdom to the rest of the world. Our first and foremost obligation is to change ourselves.

This week’s Torah portion begins with Yisro (Jethro), the father-in-law of Moshe (Moses), hearing about the Jews’ Exodus from Egypt. The Talmud says that he was particularly moved by the splitting of the sea and the Jewish victory over Amalek. The news of these events inspired him to leave his home in Midian, and join Moshe and the Jewish people in the desert.

Now in reality, news of the Jewish Exodus and the miraculous events that followed had spread throughout the world. But the Torah says “And Yisro heard,” implying that others didn’t hear. What was different about Yisro?

Yisro had a sincere desire for the truth. The Midrash describes how Yisro explored all the faiths in the world, hoping to be convinced of the truest and purest form of spiritual service, and was left unsatisfied. So when he heard what G-d did for the Jewish people in Egypt and the subsequent miracles, he was impressed. Even more, he made a change.

Every day we are inundated with news and information from around the world. Now, more than ever, it is unreal how much we can read and study. So, it is naïve to imagine that we can capitalize on every thought, take inspiration from each and every story, and change ourselves.

Perhaps, though, we can find one thing we hear in the average week which strikes a chord. Yisro teaches us to ponder that thought, not to ignore it, or even share it, but to ask ourselves, “So what am I going to do about it?” When we learn from events and make changes, that is when we have truly “heard.”