History is written with passion. Its direction is sealed and determined by vision. Taking part in the direction and scope of the historic narrative necessitates sacrifice, determination and faith. It seems, though, that a great portion of Israel, and much of the Western world, has lost the energy and stamina needed to participate in the unfolding of history and deal with its implications. This malaise of despondent inactivity promotes a general desire to react rather than act, and to be led rather than to lead. It is this pall that seems to have washed over most of Western society and is clearly a significant feature of Israel's present leadership.
There are many that see the rise of selfish hedonism, the strengthening of terrorism and the spread of opinion poll-led governments as the evils that plague this world. In reality, each of these things are but symptoms of the greater disease called Mediocrity. Discernment regarding what is good and what is evil is sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity. Hopes and dreams are relinquished for its sake, and life and death decisions are postponed indefinitely in order to maintain that cherished state of mediocrity.
Israel's present leadership was clearly predicated on mediocrity. In the words of Israel's current justice minister, Meir Shetreet, a leading Kadima politician, " Kadima had disengaged itself from all ideologies. That is Kadima's uniqueness." With such leaders at its helm, it is no wonder that critical decisions are postponed in order to avoid rocking the international boat of world opinion. Orders that should be given are stifled, responsibility that should be taken is avoided, and the easy route of mutual finger pointing and recrimination seems to be the road most often taken. It would also explain how the prime minister of a country under such constant threat decides to travel the capitals of the world rather than staying home in an attempt to thwart those treats. A recent headline in one of Israel's daily newspapers declared, "Olmert in Israel for a State Visit."
When mediocrity seeps in, inaction becomes the norm and the lack of action becomes the breeding ground of evil. In the words of British statesman Sir Edmund Burke, "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing." Not reacting to the attack of Kassam rockets invites more attacks. Postponing action against the nuclear cancer developing right under our noses will only ensure its deleterious growth. Not taking responsibility for failures and mistakes only breeds more failure.
Yet, mediocrity is the antithesis of Jewish history and destiny from its earliest beginnings. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, knew G-d, and the Bible goes on to describe that Enoch and Noah walked with G-d. However, Abraham was given a different task: "HaShem appeared to Abram, and said unto him: 'I am G-d Almighty; walk before Me, and be thou wholehearted.'" (Breishit / Genesis 17:1) Abraham is bidden to be courageous and walk before G-d, not next to Him, and to move forward into his destiny with faith. It is that heroic walk into the unknown that will mark his descendants and change history.
Regrettably, it is that courage that has been lost to most of Israel's present leadership. But it has not been lost to Israel's people. During the Lebanon war, many Israeli citizens volunteered their time and money to help their brethren in the north. One such gentleman drove his van into Kiryat Shemona and filled his car with supplies in the local grocery. When he finished distributing the supplies, he drove back to the grocery and asked the young women running the shop for more supplies. At one point, he turned to the woman and asked her why she doesn't take her young children and move down south for a while. She very plainly responded that if she leaves, "who would keep the store open?"
A simple woman with a simple, courageous determination to be more than mediocre.
Last week, a new Torah scroll was presented to the yeshiva in Hebron in memory of Colonel Dror Weinberg. On November 14, 2002, Col. Weinberg affixed the mezuzahs to the doorposts of his new home in Jerusalem, where he and his pregnant wife Haddasa and their five young children had just moved. Most of Weinberg's military service was in the Paratroop Brigade and the elite General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, where he was a team commander. He also commanded a paratroop battalion, an elite Maglan unit, and a reserve brigade. He was appointed commander of the Hebron Brigade and was slated to become commander of the Paratroop Brigade.
But Col. Weinberg was called to return to the army before he had a chance to sleep in his new home; and the next day, November 15, Col. Weinberg was caught in an ambush by Palestinian militants in Hevbron. Dror Weinberg died that night defending a group of Jews walking home from Sabbath eve prayers.
The little boy that was born after Col. Weinberg's death was at the ceremony last week, as well. The last section of the Torah scroll was written in the alleyway where Col. Weinberg died during his attempt to save the lives of others. The Torah was then taken by Dror's father and many others, with singing and dancing, to the yeshiva. The six children of a man who ventured beyond mediocrity, and gave all that he had to protect others on that Sabbath eve, danced with joy and tears in the streets of Hebron.
It is that mixture of tears and joy that fills the hearts of all those who contemplate the interplay of those shackled with mediocrity and those aflame with faith and heroism. Evil may blaze through the thorny thickets of mediocrity, but it will be vanquished by the spirit and faithfulness of the giants of spirit.
There are many that see the rise of selfish hedonism, the strengthening of terrorism and the spread of opinion poll-led governments as the evils that plague this world. In reality, each of these things are but symptoms of the greater disease called Mediocrity. Discernment regarding what is good and what is evil is sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity. Hopes and dreams are relinquished for its sake, and life and death decisions are postponed indefinitely in order to maintain that cherished state of mediocrity.
Israel's present leadership was clearly predicated on mediocrity. In the words of Israel's current justice minister, Meir Shetreet, a leading Kadima politician, " Kadima had disengaged itself from all ideologies. That is Kadima's uniqueness." With such leaders at its helm, it is no wonder that critical decisions are postponed in order to avoid rocking the international boat of world opinion. Orders that should be given are stifled, responsibility that should be taken is avoided, and the easy route of mutual finger pointing and recrimination seems to be the road most often taken. It would also explain how the prime minister of a country under such constant threat decides to travel the capitals of the world rather than staying home in an attempt to thwart those treats. A recent headline in one of Israel's daily newspapers declared, "Olmert in Israel for a State Visit."
When mediocrity seeps in, inaction becomes the norm and the lack of action becomes the breeding ground of evil. In the words of British statesman Sir Edmund Burke, "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing." Not reacting to the attack of Kassam rockets invites more attacks. Postponing action against the nuclear cancer developing right under our noses will only ensure its deleterious growth. Not taking responsibility for failures and mistakes only breeds more failure.
Yet, mediocrity is the antithesis of Jewish history and destiny from its earliest beginnings. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, knew G-d, and the Bible goes on to describe that Enoch and Noah walked with G-d. However, Abraham was given a different task: "HaShem appeared to Abram, and said unto him: 'I am G-d Almighty; walk before Me, and be thou wholehearted.'" (Breishit / Genesis 17:1) Abraham is bidden to be courageous and walk before G-d, not next to Him, and to move forward into his destiny with faith. It is that heroic walk into the unknown that will mark his descendants and change history.
Regrettably, it is that courage that has been lost to most of Israel's present leadership. But it has not been lost to Israel's people. During the Lebanon war, many Israeli citizens volunteered their time and money to help their brethren in the north. One such gentleman drove his van into Kiryat Shemona and filled his car with supplies in the local grocery. When he finished distributing the supplies, he drove back to the grocery and asked the young women running the shop for more supplies. At one point, he turned to the woman and asked her why she doesn't take her young children and move down south for a while. She very plainly responded that if she leaves, "who would keep the store open?"
A simple woman with a simple, courageous determination to be more than mediocre.
Last week, a new Torah scroll was presented to the yeshiva in Hebron in memory of Colonel Dror Weinberg. On November 14, 2002, Col. Weinberg affixed the mezuzahs to the doorposts of his new home in Jerusalem, where he and his pregnant wife Haddasa and their five young children had just moved. Most of Weinberg's military service was in the Paratroop Brigade and the elite General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, where he was a team commander. He also commanded a paratroop battalion, an elite Maglan unit, and a reserve brigade. He was appointed commander of the Hebron Brigade and was slated to become commander of the Paratroop Brigade.
But Col. Weinberg was called to return to the army before he had a chance to sleep in his new home; and the next day, November 15, Col. Weinberg was caught in an ambush by Palestinian militants in Hevbron. Dror Weinberg died that night defending a group of Jews walking home from Sabbath eve prayers.
The little boy that was born after Col. Weinberg's death was at the ceremony last week, as well. The last section of the Torah scroll was written in the alleyway where Col. Weinberg died during his attempt to save the lives of others. The Torah was then taken by Dror's father and many others, with singing and dancing, to the yeshiva. The six children of a man who ventured beyond mediocrity, and gave all that he had to protect others on that Sabbath eve, danced with joy and tears in the streets of Hebron.
It is that mixture of tears and joy that fills the hearts of all those who contemplate the interplay of those shackled with mediocrity and those aflame with faith and heroism. Evil may blaze through the thorny thickets of mediocrity, but it will be vanquished by the spirit and faithfulness of the giants of spirit.