Who defines Judaism is almost as important as what defines Judaism. As much as all Jews contribute to the picture, it is our prominent figures that set the tone for who we are. Sometimes it’s our religious leaders while other times it’s the people who just kind of float to the top. The names Rav Ovadia Yosef and Rav Shalom Eliyashiv may not mean too much to most American Jews, but as the preeminent Torah scholars of the day they shape the way we all look at Judaism in its religious aspect. This ultimately trickles into our cultural norms, regardless of religious affiliation. It just may be a delayed effect of a generation before that impact is felt. Pop culture figures also play a role in shaping who we are as a people. Mark Zuckerberg, Matisyahu, Shyne, and any number of celebrities, thinkers, and politicians outside of the yeshiva bubble contribute heavily to our self-understanding as a people. If we look to Zuckerberg, it’s a tacit confession that we are in fact a nerdy people. If we look to the Beastie Boys, it means we want to be a presence in American culture. Etc…
The Jews in the Sinai Desert didn’t necessarily appreciate Miriam and Aharon while they were alive. They certainly did miss them when they passed on, as both deaths were accompanied by the loss of resources that they once had such as Miriam’s well. History may have been very different had the Jews shown their love and respect for them while they were alive. Maybe there wouldn’t have been a Golden Calf story. Maybe the Jews would have entered Israel right away. We would have been a different people now if we had loved our leaders then.
I had this talk with a colleague of mine. He said it’s a major issue we’ve always had. We don’t like being told what to do and we don’t necessarily respect our rabbis. We sure respect our brothers who make it in the public sphere, but what about our Torah scholars? It totally changes the tone of who we are. If we just appreciated the gentle intellectual giants in our midst, we’d be better off for it.
