You would think that if everyone followed the laws of the Torah, Hashem would be pleased and all would be good. Yet, the Talmud in Bava Metzia 30b teaches that Rabbi Yochanan said “Jerusalem was destroyed because people judged based on Torah Law”. The Gemara appropriately asks “What is wrong with that? What else should they base their decisions on?” The Gemara answers that the problem was they insisted on the absolute law of the Torah and were not willing to go beyond the letter of the law.
In this week’s Parsha, Va’eschanan (6:18), the Torah states “and you shall do that which is straight and good in the eyes of G-d.” Rashi comments that this is referring to compromise and conducting yourself beyond the letter of the law. The Torah is mandating that it is not enough to be exacting in your behaviour and only do what is absolutely required. You should go above and beyond and do the “right” thing even if it isn’t an obligation. For example, if you are excused from participating in a certain act of Chesed or charity and you can help out, do it anyway.
But what is wrong if you only follow the letter of the law? Why should it have caused the destruction of Jerusalem? And furthermore this statement of Rabbi Yochanan seems to contradict another Gemara that tells us that the reason was Sinat Chinam – unwarranted hatred. In fact this seems to be the more widely known reason.
Rav Elya Lopian (1876-1970) explains that there is a well known principle that Hashem works with a system known as Midah K’neged Midah – measure for measure. Rewards and punishments are given in accordance with the actions we do. The root cause of the destruction was unwarranted hatred. However, this could have been overlooked and Jerusalem and the Temple could have been spared. Hashem looked at how the people were conducting themselves. If they had been willing to go beyond the letter of the law and overlook situations where they had been wronged, then Hashem would have done the same. He would have said, you aren’t exacting in only the letter of the law, I won’t be either. But the people insisted on their rights. I won’t do the extra favour or accept anything less than what I am entitled to. I will only do what I am absolutely obligated to and no more. Hashem said in that case, I will do the same and He destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem.
The truth is, it is not only Hashem who deals in measure for measure. We all do it even if we aren’t aware of it. When you go the extra mile for someone else, they are likely to do the same for you. If you say, I am sorry I don’t have time to help you or insist on being entitled to your rights, others will do the same to you.
It is hard to believe but with Tisha B’Av behind us, we are starting to think of Rosh Hashanah. We can get an early start by resolving to be more forgiving of others and extending ourselves to do more than we are absolutely required to. Not only will our friends respond in kind, but Hashem will also be willing to overlook some of our misdeeds or problematic behaviour and provide us with our needs even if we are not deserving.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Shaps and the JET Team
