As we celebrate the return of the living hostages, we are hearing more and more stories not just from them, but from the other hostages, many of whom I imagine were asked, until now, to remain silent to protect those still in captivity. One of the most poignant came from a young hostage, Or Levy who encountered Hersch Goldberg Polin in captivity. While they were together Hersch quoted Frederick Nietchke who said “a person who has a why, can endure any how.” This mantra sustained Hersch and through him, so many others as they endured the unendurable and bore the most horrifying how. Upon his return, Or had the words tattooed on his skin, a permanent reminder of what helped him to survive and the light which Hersch brought to the darkness for so many.
This week in our Torah portion, we read about the Tower of Babel. The wonderous fable of the people of the world, united to build a tower to reach the heavens in order to make a name for themselves. But God was displeased with the construction of the tower and struck them all with the inability to understand one another. Everyone suddenly spoke a different language, which thwarted the building project and drew to a close this very short chapter.
Many commentators have asked what was so wrong with building this tower? Why were they confounded in their task, unable to communicate with each other, sending groups scattering throughout the world. It would seem working together on a shared task would be admirable and yet, it displeased God. There are a variety of explanations.
Some suggest that the people had become so consumed with building the tower and reaching heaven, that they no longer cared for one another. A brick being placed in position, was more valuable than a human life. If someone fell and died while building, the people were more concerned with the loss of the brick, than of the life. It is suggested, that they cared more for material success than about kindness and compassion to others.
The tower was also a grab for power: they were building to reach and overthrow God. The tower would touch the heavens and then they could rule the earth. The people’s sole focus was building this edifice to make a name for themselves as the tower endured beyond their lives.
But that is, according to some commentators, was where they went wrong. Unlike Hersch and the hostages, they had the “how” without the “why.” Their “why” was a hollow ambition, a lusting for power, control and material success. They had no purpose beyond themselves and without a purpose, without meaning, acts are doomed to eventual failure. Last week we read about the creation of humanity.
We came forth from the earth, a body was crafted from the dust, but what gave us life, what animated us, was the spark of Divinity breathed into us by God. And that part of us is what yearns for meaning, it draws us to find connections, understanding and purpose in life. We need a “why” and when we find one, we can do anything. Judaism and being part of community can help us understand and find our “why.” For each of us it may be different, it can be evolving and changing but the “why” is what can unite us in shared purpose and help us walk together into a future of which we dream and then create.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio OAM