rear pew mirror • doug brook
A Well-Regulated Mishnah
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In the beginning, the Big G empowered humans with the ability to control their destiny. Possible side effects include controlling not just their own, but each other’s destinies as well. Soon after this divine empowerment for all four members of humankind, Cain killed Abel. In doing so, Cain wiped out 25 percent of the population in one attack. Further, Cain controlling his own destiny in this manner took away Abel’s control of his own destiny. Perhaps it was Abel’s destiny for Cain to determine Abel’s destiny for him. But that would mean Abel never had control of his own destiny. Unless control of one’s own destiny requires being at all times (somehow) prepared to not be killed. Just in case. Regardless, this murderous moment was a unique anomaly of human behavior. Many such unique anomalies continued through the generations, until “don’t kill” made number six on the first Top Ten list to be accessed via tablet from the cloud. That’s all the Commandment says. Don’t kill. No elaboration. No disclaimer. No qualification. Just say no. There’s an Amendment, from a slightly less divine yet just-as-formalistically-written source, that says “the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.” (Some contend the world would be a better place if just two vowels were switched, so that the right to bare arms shall not be infringed. In the words of Tevye, “may the Lord smite me with it, and may I never recover!”) That’s not all the Amendment says. “The right to bear arms shall not be infringed.” But it’s preceded with “A well-regulated militia, necessary for the security of a free state…” Elaboration. Disclaimer. Qualification. It’s all in the same, single sentence. This truth is self-evident. So, the arms are to relate to a well-regulated miliAnd the arms are to be part of the secuWho controls tia. rity of a free state. opposite of it would be an absence your destiny? of The regulation, and the enabling of a threat to security. In synagogues. In malls. In schools. In more places than fit this space’s 700-word limit. And counting… Fortunately, of necessity to the security of a free state, the recently-discovered ancient book of Donteronomy presents a pivotal, somewhat recognizable dialogue. Abraham stepped forward before the LORD and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous for the wicked? “What if there are fifty righteous killed at once in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place’s future despite the fifty righteous ones who died there? “Far be it from You to do such a thing — to let die the righteous by the wicked, just so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous killed within an act of violence, on their account I will spare the whole place by restricting the tools involved, for none should wield such a power over life and death that approaches Mine own.” Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord — though I am but dust and ashes — suppose the fifty righteous killed lack five. Will You restrict the arsenal for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will restrict it.” continued on previous page
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May/June 2023 • Southern Jewish Life