We are in the season of graduations. This week Rabbi Woznica shares some messages to graduates.
The Problem of Good Intentions
Dear Graduate,
Author and businessman Stephen Covey wrote, “We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior.” As a result, when we do something that ends up being harmful, we rationalize by thinking “we meant well.”
And yet, the adage is true; the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
If intentions can lead to “hell,” what should be the path to goodness? The key is to gain wisdom. I’ve heard it said: Wisdom is asking, “What does good?” not, “What is well-intentioned?” In other words, wisdom presses us to ask, “What will result from a given personal action or policy?” One can have good intentions; indeed, one can be a nice, decent, civilized person and do great harm.
As a graduate, you undoubtedly have more knowledge than when you began your studies. Yet one can have significant knowledge and still lack wisdom.
How do we become wiser? We need to pursue wisdom. For Jews, the greatest source of wisdom is the Bible.
Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin (z”l), who founded Stephen Wise Temple, was wise. When he was in his 90s, I asked him what he read. He responded that his reading included the Torah portion every week. As a scholar, he knew the Torah well. Yet, he continued to study those same words. I’m fairly certain he would have pointed to it as the greatest source of his wisdom.
Whether you are graduating from elementary school, middle school, high school, university, or trade school, I hope the Torah will be a source of wisdom. It if is, you will have the combination of knowledge and wisdom, which is good for you and our world.
Rabbi David Woznica
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