Image Credit: Greenbay
Did you know that some of the CIAs best trained spies were not even humans? That’s right, during the Cold War (and perhaps even to this day) the CIA used birds and other animals to plant listening devices and provide surveillance (among other missions). Of course, they were not the first to send a bird to spy. In fact, the first account of such use is mentioned in this week’s Torah portion when Noah, following the flood, sent first a raven and then a dove to investigate whether the flood waters had sufficiently receded.
The mysterious and almost mythical Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, is also related to this week’s Torah portion. Here’s how: The Mossad’s motto is a verse from Mishlei (Proverbs 11:14): “Without strategy the people falls, but with many counselors there is victory.” In describing the plans regarding the construction of the Tower of Bavel, this week’s Torah portion explains that these people were united with a common purpose. Their unity of mission was so strong that they are described as “of one language and uniform words.” (Genesis 11:1).
The unity of these people, you could argue, was admirable but the extent which they allowed it go, not leaving room for dissenting opinions, was far from positive. In fact, it led to their downfall. It is told about them that they were so caught up in their pursuit of making a name for themselves, that they neglected to care for one another. In fact, they would cry if a brick or building material would break but would ignore when one of their fellows would fall and die.
However, the biggest mistake that the generation of the Tower of Bavel made was in their very mission itself. They were only a short while after the time of The Flood and while they have been concerned with reversing the cause of The Flood, all they were concerned with was “let us make ourselves a name.” They should have examined the ways of the past and realized that the cause of the flood was the immoral behavior at the time. They should have worked to create a society that ran according to moral and ethical values and established schools to teach this way of life. Instead, they chose an empty and unhelpful goal of making a name for themselves.
This story is included in the Torah narrative because there are important lessons for us. Our generation has been witness to degradation in society. Once strongly held moral principles are scoffed at as being outdated and at best irrelevant. Our job, more than anything else, is to ensure the reversal of this trend. We can choose to invest our efforts, energy and hard earned dollars to “make ourselves a name” or we can choose to strengthen, support and participate in propagating positive values and morals.
Please join us in making the right choice.
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Supporting organizations, like our Chabad Jewish Community Center, that strengthen belief in G-d and living a fulfilled Jewish life is a great way to personalize the lesson provided by the people of the Tower of Bavel. On the most basic level this means to assist in constructing an inviting space for Jewish people of all walks of life to study and celebrate their precious heritage.
Over the holidays we were privileged to have beautiful new flooring installed. Please join me in thanking Ze’ev and OrTal Shtulvarg and family for their generosity in sponsoring the new flooring. Come by this Shabbat and see for yourself the wonderful difference it makes!!