One of my favorite quotes from the Bible is ālo-TOV he-YOT ha-a-DAM l’-va-DOā ā it is not good for man to be alone. This quote is from Genesis 2:18, and itās the introduction to Godās creation of Eve, a helpmate for Adam. One of the reasons this Biblical line is near and dear to my heart is that it was quoted to my now husband and myself when we got engaged over a decade ago. How sweet! It stuck with me though – the notion that we arenāt meant to be in this world alone. But not just physically: spiritually, cognitively, and creatively. All of those were traits our forthcoming marriage was to be blessed with. But this extends beyond a nice Lechayim, a wedding toast. According to a recent study done by the American Psychological Association, āFriendship keeps us healthy.ā It seems obvious, of course, but the idea of not being alone is one of the first instructions given in the making of man. And itās one of the most fundamental constructs we have today. People need other people in their lives. We should be blessed to have partnerships with those around us.
In the Portion, Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9) read over Shabbat, the Jewish people are given the āblessingā of isolation and loneliness. Or so we think. Could it be true that God allowed such a blessing to be given, when the first human experience in the Bible is the opposite of being alone?
At surface level, this seems potentially positive. But when we dive deep, isolation truly a blessing?
Are we really meant to be a people alone?
The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, a modern-day Jewish Bible scholar and philosopher, has a thought-provoking perspective on this apparent contradiction. In his reading of the text, Rabbi Sacks challenged the traditional understanding of this “blessing” and suggested that it might be more of a curse. Especially considering that everything Balaam had intended to be a curse was miraculously turned into a blessing.
In fact, Rabbi Sacks argues that the Bible consistently portrays solitude in a negative light. Beyond the creation story, we see examples such as the leper who must “dwell alone, outside the camp”
And of course, the mournful description in Lamentations of Jerusalem as a city left alone.
Isolation, it seems, is often associated with punishment or tragedy, neither of which is a blessing!
So what does “a people that dwells alone” really mean? Jewish tradition and history do not support the notion of intentional isolation. However, the Jewish people do value an element of individuality. Abraham is an example – he was a figure who was distinct from his neighbors but who nonetheless engaged with them, fought for them, and prayed on their behalf.
Just as it was not good for Adam to be alone, it is not good for the Jewish people to be isolated from the rest of humanity. To be Jewish is to be loved by God, not to be hated or shunned by others. The concept of being “set apart” or “holy” does not necessitate complete separation or loneliness.
In Rabbi Sacks’ interpretation of this blessing turned curse, he has painted a picture of a Jewish identity that maintains its uniqueness while actively engaging with the broader world. When Jews fight for their rights and freedoms, they are simultaneously fighting for universal human freedom. And the Jewish struggle often serves as a barometer for the state of liberty in any given time and place. Today, this message couldnāt be more true. Weāve all heard the adage: āOn Saturday we kill the Jews, on Sunday we kill the Christians,” or with greater tact, āfirst the Saturday people, then the Sunday people.ā
This anti-loneliness perspective opens the door to building alliances and fostering understanding across different faith communities. We are at a precipice of change where there is exponential potential for solidarity and mutual understanding that transcends religious boundaries. And in turn, transcends a Biblical loneliness.
As Jews and Christians, we can simultaneously maintain our unique identities while fostering connections with others. This will not only ensure our own religious well-being but will also contribute to the health and vitality of society as a whole. In friendship, in community, and in solidarity with others, we find not just survival but the blessing of the flourishing of the human spirit.
Allowing a Palestinian terror state in the heart of Israel would destroy the Jewish State.
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