I received the following response to last weeks Shabbos email:
“Dear Rabbi Benjy.
I am not a member of Chabad but I receive your weekly newsletters and find them thoughtful and inspiring. I was therefore surprised at your comment that you declined to comment on gun control for fear of upsetting someone. It seems to me that after the horror of Orlando a spiritual leader should take that risk.”
Very true, and I appreciate the feedback.
However, while a spiritual leader should speak the truth, whether it is popular or not, the question is, what should a spiritual leader be speaking about to begin with. What is his or her role? Is the role of a spiritual leader to address symptoms or the root cause?
Allow me to explain using health as a metaphor.
In medicine it is important to treat the cause and not just address the symptoms with drugs.
While Tylenol may be helpful for a headache, if the headache is chronic and accompanied by other symptoms, the root cause must be addressed, not just the symptoms.
Society works the same way. A variety of “ailments” in a society is an indication of a deeper and more systemic problem, which must be addressed.
Drug violence, mass shootings, corporate corruption, terrorism, depression, a broken justice system, global warming, racism, sexism and broken families are just some of the challenges we face today. However, these are not isolated problems but rather symptoms of a deeper problem, a systemic problem that requires a systemic solution.
Judaism believes that all of society’s problems are actually connected. They are all symptoms of the same “disease”.
Just as in medicine, it is crucial to address the root cause in addition to treating the symptoms.
The way to address the root cause is by inspiring more people to appreciate that every life is created in the Divine image, which is the source of the uncompromising sanctity of human life. As deliberate creations of G-d, we have responsibilities not only rights. We have a responsibility to give, to share and to care, not just the right to take and ignore. A society that understands this is a society with less killing, less greed and corruption, more happiness and more wholesome families.
We each have our unique role. While politicians deal primarily with symptoms, the role of a spiritual leader is to deal primarily with root causes. To uplift, inspire and remind humanity of the infinite value of life and our moral responsibilities to our creator.
As a result, whenever I write about current or political events, my goal is only to draw a moral lesson that we can apply to our lives.
The moral lesson for today is to focus on root causes not just symptoms. Posting on Facebook, signing petitions and calling your congressman are all important, but ultimately they only address the symptoms.
Appreciate the Divine spark within every human being, treat everyone with respect and concern, give more than you take, and consider what you are needed for more than what you need. This will inspire a ripple effect all around you. We are presented with countless encounters each day to uplift and inspire, and these encounters can be the catalyst to a better world.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Benjy Silverman