In this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, it is written:
“Do not be a follower of the majority for evil; and do not respond to a grievance by yielding to the majority to pervert [the law]….
Distance yourself from a false word…
Do not accept a bribe, for the bribe blind those who see and corrupt words that are just.”
– Exodus: Chapter 23….
These are the moral laws upon which Justice and even civilization are based.
When these laws are violated, corruption occurs.
When these laws are abrogated by a culture, the culture becomes corrupt.
When the opposite of these laws is advocated, the culture becomes evil.
When a culture decides that “Don’t Be Evil” is NOT an appropriate slogan…
Then, then evil becomes okay and justified and the word of the day.
And, G-d may just Choose a King (or a Congress) to rule over the People that will…
“Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud, hatch out.”
– Claudius in “I, Claudius”
Life is Beautiful All the Time.
Good Shabbos!
4 replies on “Don’t Be Evil”
“Do not accept a bribe…” Anyone who can offer insight into something I’ve been wrestling with would be greatly appreciated. Since we know we take out of Social Security and, to an even greater degree, Medicare far more than we put in, and since we have done nothing to stop our current governments at every level from stealing the wages of those not yet born, who among us is not thereby taking a bribe, and what do we do about it?
You are correct.
And, “Do not accept a bribe” is specifically referring to those who have control over meting out Justice, not on the ordinary human condition.
In other words, G-d is demanding that “public officials”; Judges; etc., operate at a Higher Standard than the rest of the human race.
Thanks for responding.
I agree with your point, I have seen so many evils but bribery and extortion are probably at the root of this evil.