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 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 moral character by their honesty and the pursuit of justice, 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.
When officials blatantly lie, sometimes under oath, and even while prominently wearing religious symbols, it 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.”
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 repeatedly warns of the dangers when lies become acceptable and normal in a society.
Unfortunately, lies and misinformation spread like wildfire.
Mark Twain famously said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”
It is essential, in order to have a civilized society, that leaders be of strong character and do the right thing no matter the consequences.
History has shown us countless people who have maintained their principles 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, suspicion spreads throughout society and brings about a collapse of morality, jeopardizing justice.
Sadly, we are seeing an abundance of elected officials who are more concerned with staying in power than being truthful.
In these fraught times, it is even more important to choose leaders who have the character to hold to the truth.
In the meantime it is crucial that citizens, especially religious leaders, not remain silent when they see cruelty and lies become acceptable in society.
When the poor, the immigrant, the sick, the hungry and the most vulnerable among us are targeted as “undesirable,” we must speak up.
When leaders pursue an agenda of persecution of the “other” just to stay in power, our democracy is at risk.
Our silence in the face of lies and misinformation enables this environment to grow ever more powerful. Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who suffered in a Nazi concentration camp for almost a year, said “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. taught that “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
“It is not enough to be concerned for the life to come. Our immediate concern must be with justice and compassion in life here and now, with human dignity, welfare, and security” (Rabbi Abraham Heschel).
The Talmud teaches that truth is the very foundation of the world.
A civilized, moral society is in danger when lies become normal and truth is ignored.
It seems the normalization of lies occurring in our country and the world today is shaking that very foundation.
The time for silence and looking away is over. It is enough.
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.
