Modernity

You can follow all the most recent fads and be old-fashioned. And you can follow the ancient teachings of Torah and be truly modern.

Listen you shall Listen

One of the most oft recited selections from the Torah appears in this week’s parsha. It begins with the words:

“And it will come to pass if you will diligently obey My Commandments which I command you this day, to love G-d your G-d and to serve Him will all your heart and with all you soul, I will give…”

These words are recited at least twice daily, as the second paragraph of the Shema. This fact attests to the centrality of this selection to our lives. It is thus certain that it contains an invaluable lesson for us. And if this is true with regard to the entire paragraph it is even more so with respect to its opening words, for the opening words set the tone and convey the spirit of that which follows.

If we were to translate these opening words literally, it would read as follows: “And it will come to pass, if listen you shall listen to My commandments.”

Rashi addresses the repetition of the word “listen” in this verse and explains that it is meant to convey the following message:

“If you will listen with respect to old matters, you will also listen with regard to new matters.”

Anxiety

One of the great challenges of modernity is the fast pace of change that punctuates our lives. No sooner do we get used to one fad, fashion, technology, political situation, et al. we discover that it is already outdated and we must move on to another level and another experience.

In short, we are always challenged to be on our toes and rarely do we have a moment to catch our breath.

It is no wonder that our generation suffers from so much anxiety. We are overwhelmed by the avalanche of new developments in our lives. We cannot keep up with the demand they make on us. Twenty four hours a day, one can be in touch with literally the whole world. So instead of having to deal with the pressures of life in one place within a prescribed period of time, we are exposed to the entire world at all times.

You Hear but You Don’t Listen!

As a result of the anxiety we suffer from, our senses are dulled and we are incapable of listening. People can talk to us, and we can hear what they say, but we don’t listen.

It is no wonder that our inability to communicate has been implicated as one of the most significant contributors to the breakdown in our relationships. In order to communicate to another person, we have to first hear and listen to what they have to say to us.

When Moses addressed the Jewish people as they are about to enter into the Promised Land, he was well aware of the challenges they will confront. He knew that it will be very difficult for them to “listen.” Moses already had the experience of talking to the Jews when they were slaves in Egypt and they didn’t listen because they were overwhelmed by their workload.

In the future (“It will come to pass”), Moses realized, the Jewish people will suffer from the same inability to listen, but for the opposite reason. In Egypt, they were subjected to slavery. Life was slow paced, boring and virtually no changes. The same dreary day they had yesterday was repeated today. It was the brutal fashion with which they were treated that dulled their senses.

By contrast, in the future, Moses prophesied, the problem of apathy in the Jewish community, the breakdown of communication, will come as a result of having too many changes in their lives.

How do we cope with this problem?

The So[u]lution

Moses then continues: If you have a problem with “listening” in the modern age, the answer is to listen with regard to “old matters.” In order to cope with modernity we have to let ourselves open up and become receptive to the “old fashioned” teachings of the Torah. For Torah is not only the compilation of Divine wisdom that teaches us right from wrong, it is also the ultimate source of stability, comfort and clarity that exists. The teachings of the Torah resonate in our soul, and our soul never gets bored or distracted. With Torah we have a so[u]lution!

When one is receptive to and “listens” to the old Torah in the new times, one does not have to give up modernity. On the contrary, it enables us to truly enjoy it. What pleasure can one derive from modern life if it just causes anxiety and depression?

To live in the modern world, one must be anchored to the old world, which, in truth, is not old, but timeless. What G-d gave us at Sinai, 3300 years ago was meant for all times, since G-d Himself is obviously beyond the constraints of time, so too, His commandments.

Nothing to Fear about Moshiach

When discussing the coming of Moshiach and the future Redemption, there are some who are intimidated by the prospects of having to give up modern life.

Nothing can be further from the truth. The Messianic Age will introduce us to the timeless nature of Torah in the most complete way. As such, we will not have any of the anxieties that plague us in the present day and age. All of the influences that prevent us from truly enjoying the good things we have in life will disappear.

In the present day and age, living in Galusexile, we can suffer from cognitive dissonance. We can study Torah and still not feel the anxiety ridding power contained in Torah. In the Messianic Age, we will be able to reap all of Torah’s benefits, specifically living an anxiety free life.

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Ekev by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.