From: murray.bbs@cybernet.cse.fau.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: L'Chaim 5 of 8
Date: 2 Sep 92 14:16:22 GMT
Organization: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

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L'CHAIM                      ISSUE  #   230           PART   5  OF   8
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                                INSIGHTS
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THE  COMMON DENOMINATOR
From a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
   In the human organism there are common functions in which all organs
of the  body participate  in a  common effort;  and there  are specific
individual  functions pertaining  to individual  organs. In  the latter
case, the individual  organ must make  a special effort to  fulfill its
particular function, while  the common functions  are carried out  much
more easily.
 
  What would happen if a particular organ surrenders its  individuality
and particular  function, applying its energy solely towards the common
functions?
 
  At first  glance it  would seem  to benefit  thereby, in saving  much
effort and in the ability  to increase its share in the  fulfillment of
the common functions of the body, together with the rest of the organs.
Yet,  needless to  say, the results  would be  disastrous both  for the
individual  organ and for the  organism as a  whole. For the individual
organ  would  lose  its  identity  and  essence  which  are  predicated
precisely on its ability  to perform a particular function.  Failure to
exercise this particular function would,  moreover, lead to its atrophy
and eventually, complete uselessness  in the fulfillment of  the common
functions as well.  As for the organism as a  whole, its deprivation of
the  particular function  and the eventual  loss of the  limb, would be
injurious  to the whole body, and even  fatal--if the organ in question
is a vital one.
 
  This analogy can truly be applied to the individual in  society, to a
minority group within a state, and  to a nation within the community of
nations. It  is certainly true in our case, both on the national level,
as a people, and in regard to every Jew individually.
 
  The Jewish people, of whom it has been said long ago "for you are the
fewest of  all  people" (Deut.  7:7),  is a  small  minority among  the
nations  of the  world, and  the individual  Jew is  a minority  in his
environment; even  living in  the midst  of his  own people, there  are
places, sad to say, where the Jew living Jewishly, i.e., in accord with
our holy Torah and the observance of its precepts in his daily life, is
in the minority.
 
  What  is the specific  function of our  people, and of the  Jew as an
individual?
 
  It is, of course, easier to ascertain the individual  function of any
particular  organ in  the body  than the  function of  a people  in the
community of  nations. However, in the case of the Jewish people, which
is unique in  its extremely  varied experiences and  long history,  the
answer is not difficult to find. By a process of simple elimination, we
can  easily ascertain what factors have been essential to its existence
and  survival, and thus determine the  essential character and function
of our people.
 
  An objective, unprejudiced survey  of the long history of  our people
will at once bring to light  the fact that it was not  material wealth,
nor physical strength, that helped us to survive. Even  during the most
prosperous  times under the united monarchy of King Solomon, the Jewish
people and state were materially  insignificant by comparison with such
contemporary world empires as Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. That it was
not statehood or homelan is clear from the  fact that most of the time,
by far,  our people possessed no independent state and has lived in the
Diaspora. That it was not the language is likewise clear  from the fact
that even in Biblical  times Aramaic began to supplant  the Holy Tongue
as the  spoken language; parts of  the Scripture and almost  all of our
Babylonian  Talmud, Zohar, etc., are  written in that  language. In the
days of Saadia  and Maimonides Arabic was  the spoken language of  most
Jews, while,  later, it was Yiddish and other languages. Nor was it any
common secular culture  that preserved our  people, since that  changed
radically from one era to another.
 
  The  one and  only common  factor which  has been  present with  Jews
throughout the ages, in all lands, and under  all circumstances, is the
Torah  and mitzvot, which Jews have observed tenaciously in their daily
lives.
 
  To be sure, there occasionally arose dissident  groups that attempted
to break away from true Judaism, such  as the idolatry movements during
the  first  Temple,  the  Hellenists  during  the  Second,  Alexandrian
assimilationists, Karaites, etc., but they have disappeared. Considered
without  prejudice, the  Torah and  mitzvot must  be recognized  as the
essential thing and essential  function of our people, whether  for the
individual Jew,  or in the relation of the Jewish people to humanity as
a whole.
 
  Hence the  logical  conclusion: the  policy  of imitating  the  other
nations, far from helping preserve the Jewish people, rather  endangers
its  very existence,  and  instead of  gaining  their favor  will  only
intensify their antagonism.
 
  The essential factor of  our existence and survival is  our adherence
to the Torah and the practice of its precepts in our everyday life. Let
no one delude  himself by taking the  easier way out, nor  be bribed by
any temporary advantages and illusory gains.
 
  The secret of  our existence is  in our being  "a people that  dwells
alone" (Num. 23:9), every one of us, man or woman, believing in the One
G-d, leading  a life according to  the one Torah, which  is eternal and
unchangeable. Our  "otherness" and independence of  thought and conduct
are not our  weakness but our strength. Only in this way can we fulfill
our function imposed on us by the Creator, to be unto G-d a "kingdom of
priests  and a holy nation,"  thereby being also  a "segula" [treasure]
for all humanity.
 
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