The Power of Words

Bereishit bara Elohim . . . so begins Torah. "In the beginning God created . . ." This first story in Torah revolves around the notion of Creation by fiat - God speaks, and Creation happens. From the very beginning of Torah Jewish tradition teaches us of the power of words.

This theme of the power of words is ever-present throughout Jewish tradition. God's ongoing speech to human beings. Abraham, Moses, the prophets of ancient Israel . . . and down through Rabbinic tradition and into contemporary teachings. Other traditions also place emphasis on the power of words. As children we are taught, "stick and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt me." Our faith traditions would beg to differ. So would many of us!

This year's Presidential contest is surely the ugliest I can remember in my life as a voter. I've witnessed enough to understand that politics involves ugliness, half-truths, and verbal feints. This year however, we are witness to something beyond the usual political fare of questionable claims and doubtful promises. In today's media we find columns devoted to tracking the truth, or falsehoods of our candidates. They are rated: by a number of “Pinocchio noses;” levels of “pants-on-fire,” and so it goes. Both the Republican and Democratic nominees have challenged relationships with truth and directness. This is not new in Presidential politics.

But this year, we are relearning the Torah's ancient lesson about the power of words with new twists. Yes, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump can be accused by the detractors of misusing the power of words in some fashion. But in my eyes and ears, and especially in my kishkes (guts), only Donald Trump raises the stakes of the power of words to a dangerous level.

The medieval Jewish philosopher Yehuda HaLevi (Spain, 1086-1145) taught that humans, like other creatures we are chai - "living beings." Yet HaLevi taught that we are something more. We are chai m'dabeyr - "living beings who speak," by which he really means that we are beings capable of rational thought. We are not only capable of rational thought in connection with our speech. We are commanded to speak responsibly. Rabbinic literature and Hasidic tales, indeed, every phase of our Jewish canon contains aphorisms and stories meant to teach us about the power of our words.

The list of Mr. Trump's abuse of words, and the platform he has gained from which to speak those words is truly frightening. Whether it is calling for a heckler in his crowd to be physically harmed; his misogynist language as regards women, and minorities; his outright lies; or even this week's suggestive comments in regard to the Second amendment and how Hillary Clinton or even judges might need to be “taken care of” have pushed the limits. He is out-of-bounds, and if we, in the name of partisan political affiliations allow him to continue, I fear where his irresponsible rantings may lead us. New York Times columnist, Tom Friedman connects what we are witnessing to the political climate in Israel leading up to the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. I am grateful for that particular Friedman' column. As had many friends and colleagues, that thought crossed my mind long before this week's Times' column.

We are living in highly polarized, tense, contentious times. We have already been witness to too much violence in our cities and on our streets. How much longer will we allow Donald Trump to spew his venomous and flammable verbiage? Will we wait until someone actually takes him "at his word" and lights the match that will set our country ablaze?

Now is the time for our leaders in our nation's capital, from both sides of the aisle to lead us out of the shadow of this dangerous volcano of Trump's egotistical, hate-filled, divisive, and dangerous proclamations. If we don't act soon, we will only have ourselves to blame. 

Much is broken in our nation. Much needs fixing. Let's start with this campaign, and then join together to find a path out of the morass in which so many feel we live.