Rabbi Stephen Weiss
Parshat Emor 2014
The 13th century Italian scholar Recanati suggests that the reason for our years of slavery in Egypt was so that through our suffering we would learn what it means to be human.
It’s the lens through which Jews tend to see everything. In case you are contemplating that very question, someone has written the definitive volume: Yes, But is it good for the Jews? by Jonny Geller, explores of all of world history from the Amish to Zoology and asks of each subject the eternal question that haunts the recesses of our minds. Well, the events this week in the world of basketball were both bad and good for the Jews.
First, the bad: Little did L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling know that he was being recorded by his mistress as he launched into a long and vile racist rant, criticizing her for taking her picture with a black basketball player, legendary Magic Johnson. Mr. Sterling told her she should not be seen with blacks and went on to describe himself in a way that strongly implied that as a team owner he was, so to speak, some kind of modern day version of a plantation owner who benevolently was providing for his lowly players. Mr. Sterling insisted there was nothing wrong with the fact that he was making his mistress delete all blacks from her Instagram account or the fact that he asserted a person had the right not to want to walk into a basketball game with a black person. In a bizarre comment, Mr. Sterling also sought to justify his views by a false claim that blacks in Israel are treated as dogs.
Now this is definitely bad for the Jews. Donald Sterling may not be the Prime Minister of Israel, the director of a Jewish Federation, a rabbi, or even a late night Jewish stand-up comic, but he is a Jew. And whether we or he like it, his actions (and by that I mean both his racism and his mistress) reflect not only on himself but also on his people. There is no escaping that reality. Many news commentators and social sites have already made mention that Donald Sterling is Jewish, and his behavior casts a shadow over all of us.
We are warned against such behavior in this week’s Torah portion, Emor. God commands us: You shall not desecrate (lo techallelu) My Holy Name.
Hillul Hashem – desecration of God’s name – occurs any time we engage in shameful behavior that causes people to doubt the goodness of God and the values of Torah, or causes the others to denigrate the Jewish people. This commandment is different from all the others in that it requires us to go beyond the letter of the law and to live a life that reflects its spirit.
The 13th century Italian scholar Recanati suggests that the reason for our years of slavery in Egypt was so that through our suffering we would learn what it means to be human – to live with love, acceptance and understanding — so that we could fulfill our role as “a Kingdom of priests and a Holy nation.” Thus we are bidden to live a life that reflects that sacred role and that enables us to perform the priestly role of representing God in the world and drawing humanity closer to its Creator.
Indeed, that is the second half of the verse quoted above: “And I shall be sanctified (v’nikdashti) among the people of Israel, I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” This is the polar opposite of Hillul Hashem, namely Kiddush Hashem, the sanctification of God’s name. To do a Kiddush Hashem is to behave in a way that brings honor to God and the Jewish people; and this week there was also a great Kiddush Hashem.
It is fitting and poetic justice that the new NBA commissioner Adam Silver – also Jewish – moved so swiftly to ban Donald Sterling from the NBA, fine him 2.5 million dollars, and seek to force the sale of the team, sending a clear message that such racism would not be tolerated. Mr. Silver understood that the entire world would be watching the choices he made in responding to this crisis, and that he had a duty to restore honor to the NBA so that it is not severely damaged by this week’s revelation. In doing so Mr. Silver also shifted the focus to himself and away from Mr. Sterling, restoring the honor of the Jewish community and sending a message to our African American brothers and sisters that Mr. Sterling is an outlier who does not represent Jewish sentiment. That is definitely good for the Jews.
Sterling? Silver? Which will we be? May we continually strive to bring honor to God through our daily speech and behavior, so that God may truly be sanctified in our midst.