by Rabbi Ron Stern
Judaism sets the bar high for personal responsibility. Whether it’s the ritual laws of kashrut or prayer, the demands placed on each individual Jew are neither light nor inconsequential. Many people think that Reform Judaism as an easy way to non-observance—i.e. lowering the bar. However, the fact that the onus is placed on the individual so that each person is free to opt out as well as opt in of their own free will actually requires that the choice must be informed. Because of that, we are challenged to be thinking, reflective, and intentional about the way that we experience our Judaism. While you can opt out, you can (and dare I say, should) elect to opt in selectively. The rich array of Jewish experiences have the potential to add meaning and purpose to our lives. It’s a well-founded principle that behaviors actually influence our internal state of being, that is, change our thoughts.
So reflect on this high bar of Jewish intentionality: וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה –Love your neighbor as yourself. The ancient and well known passage from the Torah (Lev. 19:18) isn’t directing an internal emotional state, rather it compels action. How do you have to behave in your life to actually act on that profound command? How does one show love to one’s neighbor? If neighbor is loosely understood as every single person we come in contact with during a day, what would it take to show them true love? If love is about honoring and respecting the other, how do we have to interface with other to show them that aspect of ourselves? Patience with the salesperson in the store? Courtesy on the road? Respect for our employees? Actions on behalf of those who are less fortunate? Kind words for those whose opinions are different from our own? The behavior required of this mitzvah is all of the above, and more.
As the level of discourse (and often the behavior that follows) in our society sinks to levels that astound, it is on upon us, to rise to the higher bar inspired by our tradition. Far from being the easy way out, we are called upon to buck the trends in our society and show our neighbors how Jews behave in a less than kind world.