Throughout the Torah, we are taught the importance of honesty and justice. In Deuteronomy 16:18-2:19, the portion Shoftim (Judges) begins with a declaration of how our officials should act: “You shall appoint judges and officials for your tribes … and let them govern the people with justice. Do not judge unfairly; show no partiality; take no bribes, for bribes blind the eye of the discerning and subvert the cause of the just. Justice, justice shall you pursue, that it may go well with you.”
We should always expect that our leaders exhibit truth, justice and character, along with compassion and empathy in their every action. All faith traditions value these traits as foundational to an ethical society.
God must be weeping at how both national and world events are now being dominated by leaders who seem to have no moral compass and who lie repeatedly. Watching officials blatantly lie, sometimes under oath, and even while prominently wearing religious symbols, is not only a disgrace to their oath, but a betrayal of their faith.
When a lust for power overrides a person’s ethical principles, they are not the kind of leader Deuteronomy teaches us we should demand.
The Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels was correct when he said, “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.”
Apparently, some of our leaders have taken this to heart. It is discouraging to see even when the facts are clear, people continue to support those who have shown themselves to be dishonest. The Bible has repeatedly illustrated the dangers when lies become acceptable and normal in a society.
Rabbi Chaim Stern points out that it is essential in a civilized society for people to be able to “live with a sense of security, knowing they will be treated fairly and honestly.”
Someone who is of strong character does the right thing, no matter the consequences. History has shown us countless people who have stood up against a wrong though it may have cost them friends, family, their job or their political office. Standing for truth may have even put their life in danger, as whistleblowers have sometimes discovered.
A person of good character does what is right, not what is safe or what will keep them in power.
Abraham Lincoln said it well, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
If leaders cannot be trusted to be honest, it spreads suspicion throughout society and brings about a collapse of morality, and can jeopardize justice. It is especially vital that we can trust the honesty of our leaders.
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters,” Albert Einstein said.
Whether or not someone is truthful helps us judge their character, since these traits are inextricably intertwined. When it is time to choose those who seek to lead us, we must use these qualities as touchstones for our choices.
Emet is the Hebrew word for truth, and the mystics saw it as a representation of God’s plan for us to be partners in completing creation. They saw emet as the spiritual emotion of our souls, and truth to be an almost impulsive drive central to our self fulfillment. They believed truth could bring about the ultimate manifestation of God’s will in the world, and saw it as essential in bringing about tikun olam, the repairing of our world.
By always demanding truth and justice from those who lead us, we can help to repair the brokenness in our world.
Anyone who only cares for people who can benefit them or cares only what others think of them, will be a poor or even dangerous leader.
All of us, but especially people of faith, should follow what their tradition teaches about honesty and character in choosing those who would lead them.
Kein yehi ratzon … may it be God’s will. Shalom.
_________
Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Suzanne DeBey is a lay leader of the Port Angeles Jewish community. Her email is debeyfam@olympus.net.
