When Levi Yitzchak was asked to become the rebbe of Berdichev, he agreed on the condition that the elders would not involve him in discussing issues of local government, except when they decided to pass new laws. A couple of months later, the elders invited him to the city council. When he appeared, the head of the community addressed him:
“Thank you, rabbi, for honoring us with your presence.” We need your advice. We are going to announce a new law prohibiting beggars from knocking on the doors of townspeople asking for alms. From now on, the poor will receive monthly assistance from the community treasury.
The head of the community fell silent, waiting for an answer. He believed that Levi Yitzchak would need some time to think about his response, since the elders themselves had been mulling over this bill for several months.
But the rebbe reacted immediately.
“As far as I remember,” he noted dryly, “you promised to invite me only to discuss new laws.” This case undoubtedly does not meet this requirement.
“But why, rebbe?.. We are really discussing a completely new law,” objected the confused head of the community, “it really has no precedents.”
Rebbe Levi Yitzchak sadly shook his head and said:
- My friends, you are mistaken. This law has been known since the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, for there, too, there were laws that allowed townspeople to evade their responsibilities to the poor.
The Council rejected the bill under discussion.
Commentary by Rami Shapiro It is inconvenient to be kind, generous, fair and righteous. Why? Because instinct prompts us not to righteousness, but to self-preservation. The primitive mind contains a standard set of instruction codes: eat or be eaten; kill or be killed. These are not moral judgments. It's a simple survival experience. Morality arises with the development of gray matter and higher functions of the brain. Introducing moral categories into the primitive mind is as difficult and dangerous as fighting an alligator. Just as an alligator writhes and tries to slip out of his hands, the primitive mind will behave in exactly the same way, for which the only good and just thing is to satisfy the hunger of its owner.
And often he wins. We pass selfish laws, giving them the appearance of compassion. This applies to both individuals and entire nations. Levi Yitzchak reminded Berdichev legislators of this. To their credit, they admitted that he was right and did not pass an unjust law. What would you do? After all, you also recognize the laws. You also follow some rules in your life and refer to them when you have to prove to someone that you are right. Listen to yourself. Are these rules really fair or do they just serve as an excuse for your selfishness?
Whenever you set a new rule for yourself, consult Levi Isaac. Ask him if this rule really serves the good of all people or if it only protects your personal interests.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru