Pirkei Avot 2:15 : "Let your friend's honor be more dear to you than your own."
Interpreted by David Schoenberg
#MeToo (unfortunately)
In the wake of the overwhelming sadness and disturbance that the #MeToo movement has imbued, many men, myself included, have been forced to confront their actions to assess whether we, too, have inadvertently exhibited sexist behavior resulting in discomfort, harassment or even assault.
Although I have a few minor experiences where I was actually discriminated against due to my gender, my experience pales in comparison to the microassults and worse that women (and some men) have endured, often silently, for generations. And I must confront the reality that I am also guilty. Hopefully, not of anything as horrific as true assault or even harassment, but certainly of putting someone into a position of discomfort. Invariably, this makes a dent on my highly-treasured good reputation.
Of course, the (primarily) men who are being “outed” as the worst of offenders are experiencing profound hits on their good name. But in the wake of the accusations, there is a minority backlash against the very victims who have found their voice – even a potential tarnishing of their reputations. To truly repent, the offenders must not only apologize but actively work to uplift the honor of those brave persons (men and women) who have endured the offense and spoken up. And we must do our part to support and uplift them as well. Inherently, our animalistic selves naturally work to protect our honor; however, to aspire to a higher human condition, we must put ourselves and our personal reputation behind the goal of raising the other, protecting their good name and, by doing so, actually raising ourselves to a higher, more Godly plane. #NeverAgain (hopefully).
Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sefirat ha’Omer. Blessed are You Adonai, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.
Today is the 41th day, which is 5 weeks and 6 days of the Omer.
Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30327-4303
