Banish Extremism

Robert Putnam observes, “People divorced from community, occupation, and association are first and foremost among the supporters of extremism.” (Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community)

Rabbinic Judaism was a response to many historical factors.  Among them was the danger of prophecy.  The prophet was the radical individual, and occasional violent extremist (see I Kings 18 where the prophet Elijah slaughters hundreds of prophets of Baal), who preached against the institutions of their day.  They only saw God’s truth.  The prophets were obsessed with their message.  They clung to ideals and abhorred compromise. 

The rabbis shunned extremism.  Rabbi Hisda taught: “If the zealot comes to seek counsel, we never instruct him to act." (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 81b)  The rabbis embraced discussion and debate.  They declared the age of prophecy over.  Radicalism gave way to compromise.  Extremism yielded to the needs of the community.  Our rabbinic forebears taught that it is always best to stay together.  An individual’s needs are secondary to those of the group.  Why?  Because the individual is lifted by community.

We are made better by our association with the group.  The community tempers our worst impulses.  It keeps extremism in check.  Then again sometimes the group can combine for disastrous ends.  Last week we read how the Israelites built a golden calf.  The people gathered against Aaron.  The Torah reports, “When Joshua heard the sound of the people in its boisterousness, he said to Moses, ‘There is a cry of war in the camp.’” (Exodus 32)

And this week we see the Israelites called together to build the tabernacle.  In both instances the gathering turns on the Hebrew root kahal.  There appears but one difference between the two.  In the former, the people gather and, in the latter, the people are gathered.   “Moses gathered the whole Israelite community.” (Exodus 35) 

The difference is one of leadership.  When left without direction and purpose the people resort to their worst impulses.  The building of the tabernacle provides a mission that redirects the people’s inclinations.  They gather for good.

According to the rabbis, the community is a salve.  It is the solution to selfishness.  It is balm against extremism.  It goads us, leading us to our higher moral selves.  But a group without proper leadership can go astray.  Then its worst impulses can lead to ruin.  Without purpose and mission, the group can devolve into sinful ends.

The question remains.  Who will step up and lead the way?