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A Journal of Jewish Responsibility out Long Ago That Inherent in the Political Process Is Corruption and Sin

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A Journal of Jewish Responsibility out Long Ago That Inherent in the Political Process Is Corruption and Sin purity. This is the point made over and over again by Sh'ma Reinhold Niebuhr. (It is, incidentally, ironic and tragic that the insights of this great thinker have been forgotten so quickly). The prophet Samuel pointed a journal of Jewish responsibility out long ago that inherent in the political process is corruption and sin. Politics involves the pursuit of 3/57, SEPTEMBER 21,1973 power, and power (even its pursuit) inevitably corrupts. Does this mean withdrawal into private purity? Obviously not! It means that moralists are always needed to restore balance; to puncture self-righteous- ness, and to call for improvement. Bringing good out of evil Furthermore, it is important to remember that good can be done even through the instrument of flawed Watergate must not mean passivity men. The help of Mayor Daley, for example, was Seymour Siegel sought by all the democratic candidates — and one does not dismiss the good of the Kennedy administration because the Mayor of Chicago might have rigged the Eugene Borowitz admirably points out the futility and election of 1960. The Chairman of the Watergate harm done to our social fabric and to our souls by Committee, who is lionized by so many, has been verbal over-kill (Sh'ma 3/56). When exaggeration dom- defending segregation during all his political life; and inates discourse (for example, when the Chairman of an important member of the Committee, Herman the Watergate Committee says that our current troubles Talmadge was one of the main rabble-rousers against are a worse tragedy than the Civil War), then the judi- civil rights. If we insist on complete flawlessness in cious person might best keep quiet. This is good advice. our political leaders, we will have no political leaders. It is also good advice to look to the institutions in Perfectionism is the bane of moralists and makes them useless in the real world. Again Reinhold Niebuhr which we are all involved so that water-gate-type could instruct us in times such as these. actions be avoided. We all know that cover-ups, decep- tion, and enemies' lists are part of almost all institutions — business, governmental, and even religious. What then should be done? However, some words of criticism must be spoken. First, I would submit that we should maintain a sense Eugene Borowitz believes that we live in a "foul age" of balance. Here Eugene Borowitz (perhaps against his and therefore, the usual type of social action is useless will) agrees with President Nixon. To wring our hands and even immoral. What has brought about these about the end of democracy; to call America Amerika, doleful meditations? The answer, of course, — the to invoke Hider and his minions as fitting parallels to Watergate revelations. our present leaders will do more harm than good. It will blind us to the real problems and the real possibili- It is a fundamental error to believe that our own "age" ties. Let our institutions, especially the judiciary, ferret is worse than previous ones. It is a curious conceit of out those who did wrong. most people to believe that their time is worse than all previous times. But is it true? Is this administration, Furthermore, let us be fair to those who have been for example, even if it is guilty of all that is alleged accused. This, too, is a high moral responsibility. Let (which is by no means certain) worse than the us abandon double standards, giving the benefit of the Roosevelt administration which stood by while six doubt to those whom we approve and believing every million died? Is it worse, to look back to ancient times, allegation about those whom we disdain. Let us lobby than the reign of King David when the ruler was an for better laws and more vigilance so that the type of adulterer and a murderer, surrounded by evil counse- abuses which have been uncovered might be avoided lors? The answer is. obviously "no." Our ancestors did in the future. not withdraw because the times were bad. Most of all, let us get on with the business of tlfc coun- It is a fundamental error of those who indulge in try; acting like mature people who know that the world moralizing to believe that valid political action can only is not perfect (least of all, we ourselves), but that in an take place in an atmosphere of complete political imperfect world there is still a great deal to be done. 129 A girl my own age sat next to me — she was already Thirteen, an age for contrition married and a mother and she cried during parts of the Susan Sachs service. What did she have to confess? If I understood the Al Chet at all, it represented a sense of national Defining thirteen as "the age when G-d was omnipotent guilt — that we as a people were assuming a kind of and ethereal," Cynthia Haft asks, "who . can still responsibility for all those amongst us who might have affirm he knows thirteen?" (Sh'ma 3/44). done such terrible things. But one wasn't all that respon- sible. As for my personal relationship to G-d, I still I know thirteen. fervently believed that increasing the number and I first knew thirteen when I was twelve, for my family quality of my "good" deeds would ward off all harm said that thirteen began a year earlier for girls. I wore to myself; I sensed a great control over my own destiny, a sky blue wool-jersey dress ( made by my mother) and my proof was in having arrived safely in Eretz that Yom Tov, with my first pair of sheer nylons; Yisrael, able to share this day with the privileged black leather flats; and my first tube of "Powder Pink" "remnant" — even trying to identify with them. Good lipstick. I also fasted for the first time, and Bubby was deeds brought such rewards. But still the dark days pleased by that — if not by the rest. Unlike Cynthia kept coming — for this remnant had endured the Haft, when I walked home I met no one wearing European furnaces despite their life-long piety; and sneakers, since nobody I knew was aware of a prohibition what then could I hope for? against leather shoes on Yom Kippur. And I met no Chassidim — my family having quite assured me that the last of the Chassidim were long since dead and buried. (The only possible exception was a far-off Sh'ma rebbe whom my Bubby went to visit in Pittsburgh on a journal of Jewish responsibility occasion.) Editor Eugene B. Borowitz Asst. Editor Mark 5. Golub During the temple services I sat with my family, read- Administrator Alicia Seeger ing as much of the machzor as I could in English, since Fellows Jonathan Groner, Hannah Koevary, my Hebrew learning had been brief and discontinued Arlene Pianko, Lester A. Reingold, Ori Z. Soltes. by then; but even in English I could not understand it. Art AlLorenz Yet I read intently, indeed fearing Divine wrath if I did Production Photo Graphics not conclude certain portions laid out for myself. That Contributing Editors J. David Bleich, Balfour Brickner, day I felt good, for the self-proscribed passages conclu- Harry Gersh, Irving Greenberg, Benjamin Halpern, ded and the fast completed. Later that year, and the Arthur Hertzberg, Norman Lamm, Richard Levy, next though, the dark days began coming, and I did not Henry Schwarzchild, Steven Schwarzchild, David Sidorsky, know if I could ever accomplish what I wanted because Seymour Siegel, Charles Silberman, Elie Wiesel, of expected punishment for sins I can no longer recall. Arnold Jacob Wo//, Michael Wyschogrod. Thirteen in jerusalem Sh'ma welcomes articles from diverse points of view. Hence articles present only the views of the author, not I knew thirteen again when I was twenty and my search those of the editors. Send editorial material to: Box 959, for roots had taken me to Jerusalem. Chassidim, I Ansonia Station, New York, N.Y., 10023. discovered, were alive and well thank G-d, at least in We print typos that do not obscrue the meaning. New York and Meah Shearim. Yom Kippur that year I Send business letters to: Box 567, Port Washington, N.Y. spent in Meah Shearim, wearing a white and navy 11050. Sh'ma is published bi-weekly except June, July, and third-hand cotton dress, received from a cousin in Israel August by Sh'ma, Inc. Office of publication: 735 Port who had received it in a "care" package from the States. Washington BlvA, Port Washington, N.Y. 11050. I used no make-up and wore the heavy stockings that Subscription $10.00 for 2 years in U.S.A and Canada; most Chassidic women in that shul wore, with sneakers; $15.00 overseas. Institutional bulk (10 or more copies to and altogether I could have "passed." I even davened one address) $2.50 each per year. Copyright 1973 by Sh'ma, Inc. in Hebrew by then, although I still did not understand the confessional at all — neither in Hebrew nor in- POSTMASTER: Please forward Form 3579 to Box 567, Port Washington, N.Y. 11050. English. Not that I was perfect — not by a long shot — but my felt transgressions were not illustrated by the Second class postage paid at Port Washington, N.Y. words of the Al Chet. 3/57, September 21,1973 130 An understanding that adds to thirteen Kippur service lingered momentarily above us before I now know what the A 2 Chet means: signaling our exit.
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