The primary elections were held this week. While I try to stay out of politics, I strongly believe our country needs to learn at least one thing from this week’s Torah portion:
Do not hate!
Hate makes respectable people do undignified things. When you post something to a friend or on a social media channel ask one question: What is my motivation for this post? If the answer is hate, you are not thinking straight!
We see that Balaam, a leader in the communities of his time, saddled his own donkey, something not befitting someone of his stature. Why? Rashi comments: "From here we learn that hate causes a disregard for the standard of dignified conduct, for he saddled it himself".
Without venom, without hate, have a healthy productive discussion regarding the issues facing our world, our country, our state, our community and our town.
Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman