Let G-d be the Judge and Ruler of the World

Let me tell you a story once told by Elie Wiesel, of blessed memory:

Once upon a time, Man complained to God: “You have no idea how hard it is to be human -- to live a life darkened by suffering and despair in a world filled with violence and destruction, to fear death and worry that nothing we do or create or dream matters.  You have no idea how hard it is to be human!”

God responded, “You think it’s easy being God? I have a whole universe to run, a whole universe demanding constant vigilance. You think you could do that?”

“I’ll tell you what,” suggested the Man, “let’s switch places, for just a moment. For just a moment, You be Man, and I’ll be God, and that way we’ll see who has it harder.”

“For just a moment?” God considered, “Agreed.”

So Man and God switched places. Man sat upon God’s throne. And God descended to the earth. After a moment passed, God looked up and said, “OK, time to switch back.” But Man refused. Man refused to give up the throne of God.

This is our world -- where Man plays God, and God is exiled. 

What exactly does this story mean to you?  Does it mean that we have a sense that all that happens in this world is determined by us?  Does it mean that we no longer look to G-d to help explain our fate?  Does it mean that there is no authority in this world beyond ourselves?

When you think about it, is there any aspect of the divine left in the lives we live?  Is there any way in which we can still sense the sacred? 

I would like to submit that as tough as this world has become, there can still be a sense of the sacred in our lives, a sense that there is something beyond ourselves. Living life without grappling with the key questions about why are we here and what is our purpose, I believe, leads to a life lacking meaning.

Religion doesn’t work like science.  It doesn’t attempt to answer the “hows” of life, rather it attempts to answer the question, “Why?”  Judaism according to Rabbi Harold Schulweiss is to teach us about G-dliness and what it means to put that quality back into our lives.  G-dliness is about being kind, just, and acting with righteousness. G-dliness is about moving beyond the boundaries of ourselves to the sphere of touching the lives of others in a positive way.  When we clothe the naked, feed the hungry, open our doors to those who are lost and lonely, refuse to treat others in ways in which we would like not to be treated, we are exhibiting G-dliness. 

Some people in modern society think they need to move away from humanity to sense what is sacred.  Judaism has never advocated a monastic lifestyle where you have to find G-d in the solitude of nature.  I know I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating.  Instead of asking, “Where is G-d?”  we need to be asking, “When is G-d?”  G-d is when you feel outraged at the inhumane treatment of animals.  G-d is when you stand up for the rights of all human beings to be treated with dignity and respect.  G-d is when you realize that this planet is not ours to destroy.  Thinking beyond ourselves, connecting with others, trying to repair this world are all part of what it means to be Jewish and to live Jewishly.

I read a questionnaire put out by a college organization that had topics of discussion that would possibly be of interest to its membership.  One topic was:  Am I a bad Jew because I do not keep kosher?  That topic made me think that the person devising the question did not really understand that as Jews we are not to be in the business of passing judgment on one another.  G-d is the ultimate judge of our actions.  When we live a moral life, show compassion for living things, we might think we’re living secular lives, but as Jews we are actually living Jewish lives.  When we give tzedakah, honor our parents, and earn an honest living we are once again living Jewish lives because we are living according to the value system given to us in Torah.  So the question, am I a bad Jew should really be restated by saying, “I know what other things Jews do….like keep Shabbat or keep kosher, but I’m not  doing those things….even though I’m living my life by other Jewish values.”  Does that mean that one must by necessity must stop growing as a Jew just because one is able to acknowledge the things that are not being done?  One can be a good Jew and still find room to add other aspects of holiness to one’s life even through Jewish rituals.  The key is to recognize that no matter how old we are, we are still growing and still can change as we attempt to find the sacred parts of life.

It is my hope that as we approach this new year, we can allow ourselves to see G-d and G-dliness in the world and that we will be willing to relinquish our role of playing G-d and settle for playing the role of walking in G-d’s path.  That role is a challenging one to say the least.  It requires knowing what is expected of us, resisting the easy way out of moral dilemmas, and committing ourselves to understanding that when we fail we aren’t “bad Jews” we need merely turn ourselves around and try to do better. 

L’Shanah Tovah Tikateyvu.