Good or Bad, Now or Later?

JNS.org – As a rule, when people choose to embrace their heritage and begin practicing their faith seriously, rabbis suggest a step-by-step approach. In our Jewish journeys, “instant Jews” and overnight sensations don’t usually last in the long run. But there are certainly times when a leap of faith may be in place and even recommended.

This week, we conclude the book of Genesis with the story of the end of Jacob’s life. Before Jacob dies, Joseph brings his two sons—Ephraim and Menashe—to be blessed by his father.

While bestowing his blessings on his grandsons, Jacob acts strangely. He puts his right hand over his left to bless the younger son, Ephraim, with his right hand and the older son, Menashe, with his left. Joseph tries to correct his father, but Jacob takes no notice and tells Joseph he knows exactly what he is doing. It wasn’t because his eyesight was failing, Jacob’s action was quite deliberate. Jacob manipulated his hands cleverly, saying that Ephraim’s descendants would rise higher than Menashe’s children.

I am grateful to Rabbi Yanki Tauber for bringing to my attention a teaching of one of my saintly ancestors, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Gur, also known by his work as the Chidushei HaRim.

There are two paths in the service of God, two ways in which to live our lives. Psalm 34 in Tehillim says, “Turn away from evil, and do good.” We mustn’t allow our evil inclinations to get the better of us. We must constantly work on improving our conduct and our character. We must fight the darkness. This is represented by Menashe. Joseph named him Menashe indicating that “God has made me forget all my toil and all of my father’s house.” The difficulties of the past have been dealt with and put aside.

Ephraim, however, means that “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Ephraim speaks of positivity and being fruitful, doing good and adding light.

Although the verse in Psalms first says, “Turn away from evil” and then says “and do good,” there is considerable disagreement about whether the sequence is arbitrary or mandatory.

Joseph argued that we must first rid ourselves of our negative conduct and character traits, and then we can focus on acquiring positive merits and doing good. Whereas Jacob believed that we should begin to do good immediately, even if we are not yet refined, and the good deeds themselves will help us improve and we will naturally come to refine our character traits.

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir explains that this is why Joseph, who believed that the correct sequence in life should be to turn away from the bad and then do good, preferred Menashe to be blessed with Jacob’s right hand. Jacob, however, believed that one could very well begin by doing good, and thereafter turn away from evil, as represented by Ephraim, the younger son.

It’s a fascinating question that still rages among different Jewish schools of thought. Some argue strongly that it is wrong, and even ridiculous, for Jews who have not yet become observant suddenly to begin studying Jewish philosophy. You must first start with the “bread and butter” of Judaism before you get to the “meat and potatoes.” Others disagree and will gladly teach Jewish philosophy to even the most uninitiated.

Chabad is clearly in the latter camp. The traditional sequence is not a must. On the contrary, a little light dispels a great deal of darkness. One mitzvah, one good deed and one page of Torah can ignite a fire in the soul of any Jew. If we wait until people “clean up their act,” so to speak, we may wait a long time. One positive step, even if it doesn’t seem a logical first step, may inspire a dramatic spiritual makeover.

Should someone who is not yet fully observant begin to wear a kippah? Is it wrong? Is he giving a false impression of himself to the public?

Many might call it absurd. But others might encourage it, as it may be one more step in the right direction and keep the person motivated to continue his upward momentum, even if he is not yet formally “ready” for it. In the journey of the soul, we need not wait until we overcome all of our negative inclinations before we embark on doing good.

So, the Chabadniks will stand on the street encouraging Jewish men to put on tefillin. Do they know where the guy they are talking to just came from or where he is going? No, but they will still happily help him perform a mitzvah. Even if it remains a “one-off,” the mitzvah itself is real and valid. As is the Jew. We may never know what kind of positive effect the act of putting on tefillin may have on him in the future.

I always say that when they ask, “Excuse me, are you Jewish?” it makes people think. Even if people say “No,” or “I’m busy,” or “Not today,” it’s pretty much guaranteed that as they walk away with that thought on their minds. Even if they did not put on the tefillin, the question itself disrupts their status quo. It makes them think. “Am I Jewish?” “What have I done lately to make me Jewish?” Who knows what effect just the question may have on the individual passerby?

We live in a world with darkness and redoubled darkness. While there are many signs of light to come, at the moment, the darkness is thick. To me, one visible demonstration of the power of light over darkness is on college campuses worldwide. Since the terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, there have been violent, venomous marches and protests for the Palestinians, Hamas and terrorism. Yet Jewish students regularly stand up for themselves with honor, identity and pride, putting their arms together, standing shoulder to shoulder and singing “Am Yisrael Chai,” “Shema Yisrael” or “Oseh Shalom.”

I have a video of my son, Rabbi Nissen Goldman of Chabad on Campus, standing against a violent mob at the noxious University of Cape Town. His students wear their tallit and tefillin proudly. They are fighting hate with love, war with peace, and destruction with determination. We hope and pray that their light will dispel such darkness. Should they wait until they convince their antagonists of the justice of our cause? It may be a long wait.

So, it would seem that if you are ever inspired to do a mitzvah or study Jewish philosophy, don’t tell yourself you’re not ready or worthy of it. Every good deed is a ray of light that can illuminate the world. I am certain that the psalmist would be happy even if you first “did good” and then “turned away from evil.”

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