Parshas Ki Sisa
Judaism and Violence
By Rabbi Berel Wein
The tribe of Levi distinguishes itself in this week's parsha by
responding to the call of Moshe: "Mi laHashem ailie" - "Let whoever is for
God rally and come together around me." The tribe of Levi, Moshe's tribe
and his relatives, answer the call. The frightful sight of the Jews in the
desert, still fresh from the revelation at Sinai and the acceptance of
God's Torah, now dancing around the golden calf calls for drastic action.
And the tribe of Levi therefore goes amongst its fellow Jews in a violent
attempt to destroy the golden calf, its instigators and its ideas and
beliefs. Thousands of Jews are killed by the tribe of Levi in this
encounter. Moshe, in his final words to Israel, will thank the tribe of
Levi for their courage and sacrifice in this incident. However the tribe
of Levi, because of this violent incident once again runs the risk of
being labeled as perpetual purveyors of violence. The words of Yaakov echo
in the ears of the Jewish people: "...Shimon and Levi...the instruments of
violence are their wares in life." But the antidote to Levi's apparent
penchant for violence, justified as it may be, was also prescribed by
Yaakov: "I will divide them among the children of Yaakov, I will scatter
them amongst Israel." Moshe now takes the tribe of Levi and elevates it to
the perpetual service of God and Israel. The tribe will own no land in the
Land of Israel, it will not be mobilized for the armies of Israel, it will
be dependent upon the largesse and the goodness of its fellow Jews for
material support. Now, it will put aside the sword and take up the pen. It
will serve in the Temple and it will be the teachers and scholars of
Israel. Thus it will be defanged from its propensity to do violence and
its ability to easily slay others.
Levi's streak of violence came from a holy and just source. Levi tells
Yaakov: "Shall we allow our sister to be treated as a prostitute?" Moshe
sees no nice way to stem the tide of idol worship which is about to engulf
Israel because of the presence of the golden calf in its midst. Judaism is
not pacifism at all costs. Justified use of self-defense is a cardinal
Jewish value. Levi's sense of justice and self-sacrifice are admirable
traits. But the use of violence to achieve one's ends, even if those ends
are in themselves justifiable and necessary, inevitably leaves scars on
the spirit and soul of Israel. Levi can only be saved, so to speak, by
channeling its motivation, daring, self-sacrifice and devotion to the
causes of God and Israel into a more holy mode and spiritual occupation.
Thus, at the moment of Levi's and Israel's greatest crisis, when Levi's
violence saves the day and arrests the wave of idolatry, Levi is removed
front the front line and becomes a special, holy, elevated tribe. The
words of the prophet Zecharia were said directly to the tribe of Levi, and
through them eventually to all of Israel: "Not by might nor by strength
shall you prevail, but only through My spirit, says the Lord of Hosts."
Rambam states that any human being can become a member of the tribe of
Levi, metaphorically speaking, by trusting only in God and devoting one's
self to His service and cause. Apparently, this is the true antidote to
becoming a violent society.
Shabat shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Text Copyright © 2005 by Rabbi Berel Wein and Torah.org
Visit www.rabbiwein.com for a complete selection of Rabbi Wein's books and tapes.
