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We, The People

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This is the third piece of a weekly series in which the Progressive Jewish Alliance looks at the propositions on this year's California ballot in light of the weekly Torah portion.


Why can't the people of California get what we want?

Every year, the majority of legislators submit thoughtful proposals that balance public services with fair contributions -- that is, taxes -- from people and businesses that can afford them.  Every year, a minority of legislators holds up the process and extracts concessions from public services and reduces the percentage of profits that their corporate sponsors must contribute.  This is because, when it comes to the California budget, a two-thirds rather than a simple majority vote is needed.

This brings us to this week's Torah portion, Va'eira.  Va'eira recounts the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, which is best known for how it is mistakenly cited, as a condemnation of homosexuality. Its true relevance lies in its condemnation of selfishness. Jewish commentators observe: "Some say, 'Mine is mine and yours is yours.' This is an ordinary trait. But some say, this is a trait of Sodom." (Pirkei Avot 5:12.) "Pride, fullness of bread, and careless ease was in her... neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy (Ezek. XVI, 49)," teaches Rabbi Eleazer in Midrash Rabah. These cities sought to bar travel through their land and thereby avoid sharing their wealth with the less fortunate. (Sanhedrin 109a.) As an allegory for modern times, this story teaches us that a society without social solidarity destroys itself.




From the Talmud, we learn that, in Sodom: "A certain maiden gave some bread to a poor man, [hiding it] in a pitcher. When the matter became known, they daubed her with honey and placed her on the parapet of the wall, and the bees came and consumed her." (Sanhedrin 109b.) As our rabbis teach, that was the last straw for God. That was why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.


  • Are we willing to change the rules of the game?
  • Are we willing force a more balanced and ethical approach to our budget?



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