CHULA VISTA, California — In Jewish tradition, sometime even creating the appearance of impropriety can be problematic. For example: You walk into a rabbi’s home and are horrified to find him eating a pastrami sandwich with a tall glass of milk.
You might wonder: what is wrong with this picture?
Actually, there are two things wrong with this scenario. First of all, the rabbi—or anyone else for that matter—deserves the benefit of the doubt. It is quite possible the rabbi likes drinking coconut or almond milk with his kosher pastrami sandwich.
But did the rabbi do something wrong? Well, in a way he did. The halacha regarding an action which appears contrary to the law is to do it in a way which circumvents the possibility of others casting doubt upon you. If he had to have his almond right then and there, he should have left the shells on the table, so whatever shock he might have caused would have melted into a smile.
I recently purchased the Beyond Meat Burger—it looks and tastes like a real hamburger, but it is made from plants! Yet, Jewish law requires that we keep the package just in case our guests wonder why the rabbi is eating a cheeseburger!
This point takes us to the theme of last week’s Torah portion: Pikudei, which details the accountings Moses gave concerning the Tabernacle. Oddly enough, this section is always read during tax season. And so we read, “These are the accounts of the Tabernacle … as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, by the Levites under Ithamar” (Exodus 38:21).
The details are pedantic—arguably quite boring. Moses gave an exact accounting of the raw material brought to the Sanctuary: gold (29 talents, 730 shekels), silver (100 talents, 1,757 shekels), copper (70 talents, 2,400 shekels) etc. The first thing which strikes us is that this seems to be an accountant’s report on Moses’ business affairs. Moses, after all, is the leader of the Jewish People; if he isn’t above suspicion, who is?
But why encumber Moses with a ledger?
The answer ought to be obvious. The sacred text comes to teach us that no one is above suspicion. Even Moses is accountable. But before analyzing why and what Moses is accountable for, let’s examine a more down-to-earth situation. No person lives in isolation from his fellow beings, hence the Scriptures offers the following imperative: “And you shall be innocent before God and before Israel.” (Numbers 32:22).
In fact, the Code of Jewish Law, the Shulchan Aruch[1] rules that we do not ask for an accounting from treasurers of religious charitable trusts. If this is the halacha for any communal position, why does Moses come under such scrutiny? Perhaps it is to teach the future generations of leaders to always be above suspicion.
The Talmud along with its medieval expositors offer several ethical guidelines as to how charity ought to be collected and managed.
–Money for the charity box is collected by two people and distributed by three, one time per week specifically to poor members of the community
–Concerning the charitable plate, it is collected by three and distributed by three to anyone who has a need.
–The persons in charge of these public monies may distribute these monies for other charitable purposes (this by the way, is a common problem with synagogues that are donated for charity).
Medieval scholars argue that it is the community who decides how and where the monies ought to be distributed. R. Hananel and Ramah; others permit the community to decide how to allocate charitable funds.[2]
When you think about it, our politicians have a duty to use our monies from taxes wisely. In the past, this has not always been the case. Chances are most of you have probably heard about how the government once spent $640 for a toilet seat or $7900 for a coffee pot.[3] The wasteful use of taxpayer money is criminal.
You might wonder: Why is this relevant? This week, Senate leaders got together to sign a landmark $2 trillion relief package for people and business adversely affected by the coronavirus. Most importantly, the relief package expands unemployment insurance to contractors, the self-employed, and non-profit government employees. It also revives the “Emergency Unemployment Compensation.” Among the items promised, the legislation would send checks to many Americans, create a loan program for small businesses and establish a lending fund for industries, cities and states.
The latest bill has many good features, especially when it comes to expanding unemployment benefits to those workers who became sick, quarantined, or immuno-compromised; including those who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off.
–Workers Caring for Loved Ones: Workers who have an unanticipated family care responsibility, including those who have childcare responsibilities due to school closures, or those who are forced to care for loved ones who become ill and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off
–First responders: Individuals working in the public health community who become ill or are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19 and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off.[4]
Helping those who are most adversely affected by the coronavirus is what the legislation sets out to accomplish, as we delineated above.
But conversely, some politicians often see large bills like this as an opportunity to benefit other organizations and entities that have nothing to do with coronavirus victims, e.g., various green energy programs. [5] Now I enjoy green energy like anyone else, but our political leaders must act as proper stewards of the treasure they are responsible for.
In summary, the wisdom of our Scriptures and of our rabbinical literature offers practical advice on how to look after those who are impacted by this dreadful new pandemic. In the end, our politicians ought to read about how Moses utilized the people’s monies not for anything other than the Tabernacle.
To do anything else, would constitute theft.
On a lighter note, I will conclude with a short but pithy remark the comedian Jimmy Fallon once made, “President Obama became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison yesterday. Obama said it was a good chance to talk about prison reform, and to catch up with so many former congressmen.”
We have a moral right and obligation to demand our leaders not utilize a national pandemic to promote their personal political pet projects.
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NOTES
[1] Yoreh Deah 257:2.
[2] BT Bava Batra 8a-b.
[3] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-30-vw-18804-story.html
[4] https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98158-522595–,00.html
[5] https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-problems-with-the-democrats-new-proposal/
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Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California. He may be contacted via michael.samuel@sdjewishworld.com