An old anecdote relates how a certain a Jew was stranded for many years on a deserted island. When he was finally rescued, he boasted of his many accomplishments on the island — including the construction of two synagogues.

'Very impressive,' responded his rescuers. 'But why two synagogues?'

'This is the shul that I attend', the man replied. 'The other is the shul I refuse to step foot in.'

The joke would not be humorous if it didn't contain a kernel of truth. The Jewish people often seems to be 'blessed' with an overabundance of infighting. Why so much division and conflict?

The Borders of the Nations

The song of Ha'azinu compares the heritage of Israel to that of the other nations of the world:

"When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance ... He set up the borders of the nations, corresponding to the number of Israel's children." (Deut. 32:8)

The verse is unclear. What are these "borders of the nations"? And in what way do they correspond to the number of Jewish people?

Every nation is blessed with unique national characteristics. Each nation possesses its own talents and makes its special contribution to the world. This specialty may be in the arts, sciences, organizational abilities, and so on. The verse refers to these areas of specialization as 'borders.'

All of these talents that may be found among the nations of the world also exist in the 'number' — that is, in the diversity — of the Jewish people. Jews have always been at the forefront of a remarkably diverse range of professions and disciplines.

Seventy Souls

The Midrash expressed the diversity of Israel by comparing the size of Jacob's family who went down to Egypt — seventy individuals — with the seventy nations of the world. This number represents the seventy archetypical souls, each with its own unique characteristics and talents. And when God commanded Moses to organize leaders to govern the people, He told Moses to gather seventy elders (Num. 11:16). With these leaders, Moses brought together the people's vast range of opinions and natural gifts.

This multi-talented diversity of the Jewish people, however, has its downside; it makes them more prone to internal friction and conflict. Each talent strives to express itself fully — often at the expense of other talents. The Sages noted the "The greater the person, greater his evil inclination" (Sukkah 52a). This insight is true not only for the individual, but also for the nation. When a nation is blessed with great talents, it has a greater potential for internal strife.

The Floating Palace

The Midrash portrays the Jewish people with a striking image:

"It is like a palace built on top of many boats. As long as the boats are tied together, the palace stands."

It is natural for each boat to try to make its own separate way in the sea. It is only the unifying placement of the palace that directs the fleet of boats to sail together in the same path.

But what is the palace in the metaphor? It is the force that guards against internal strife and unifies the Jewish people — the Torah itself. The Torah in its highest state encompasses all areas of knowledge. The seventy elders, representing the full range of souls, were gathered together to unite the people under one flag — 'to perfect the world in the reign of God.'

Diverse disciplines are harmoniously united when they can emphasize their contribution to the general good, as developed through the Torah. Then the diversity of the Jewish people becomes a blessing, as the nation is unified via the very root of its inner essence, the Torah.

(Adapted from Orot p. 169, paragraph 6; Midbar Shur, pp. 110-115)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison