by Karen Singer Avrech, Ph.D.
I recently heard Mark R. Levin discuss his upcoming book, Ameritopia. He pointed out that progressive-liberal ideology strives to create a utopian society. But utopia, he emphasized, is incompatible with the ideals of individual liberty as formulated by our Constitution.
It occurred to me that the schism between the goal of achieving a so-called perfect society where everyone receives an equal share of wealth, and a society where success is based on free enterprise, risk-taking, and individual initiative is delineated in the most fundamental roots of Judaism: The story of the Garden of Eden.
I read a wonderful analysis of the Eden story in a book by Rabbi David Fohrman, The Beast That Crouches at the Door: Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, and Beyond which explains the message of the Adam and Eve story. Their choice, teaches Rabbi Fohrman, was between the Tree of Life, one that would grant the utopian dream of eternal life and a worry-free existence, and the Tree of Knowledge which brings awareness of Good and Evil and the burden of mortality.
Judaism does not interpret the Eden story as the downfall of man, nor as original sin. Rather, Judaism understands Eve’s tasting of the forbidden fruit as an act that invokes her very humanity. Adam & Eve and their seed were no longer guaranteed eternal life. However, mankind was given free will, which, argues Rabbi Fohrman, is an opportunity rather than a curse.
Without good and evil, there is no choice.
The Tree of Life represents the utopian ideal of Progressive liberal ideology. In this state there is equality, but minimal room for individual choice or freedom. In contrast, the Tree of Good and Evil signifies the opportunity for the fulfillment of man’s potential.
There are risks of making the wrong choice, but without the possibility of failure there is no authentic free will. This choice represents the position of Conservatives who support a constitutional republic, and have no qualms about defining good and evil. Progressive liberals want to minimize free choice—they dictate what light bulbs to use, which cars to drive, permissible and forbidden foods, America’s health care system—and impose a crushing state controlled equality. Conservatives, on the other hand, advocate for free will, exemplified in our constitutional republic. Liberal Progressives have made a fetish of moral relativism whereas Conservatives have no qualms about defining good and evil.
These two conflicting ideologies are, ultimately, as irreconcilable as the The Tree of Life and the Tree of Good and Evil.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
10 Comments
Wonderful evaluation, Karen.
I commented (late) on the Rabbi Hillel post (Nov 23) and gave my one sentence definition of the difference between Liberals and Conservatives, but I don’t think many people saw it – you have to move fast to keep up with Robert’s posts here!
My definition was “Liberals are concerned with engineering societal outcomes while Conservatives are concerned about ensuring individuals’ opportunities.”
I think your post (above) add credence to my definition!
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Judaism does not interpret the Eden story as the downfall of man, nor as original sin. Rather, Judaism understands Eve’s tasting of the forbidden fruit as an act that invokes her very humanity. Adam & Eve and their seed were no longer guaranteed eternal life. However, mankind was given free will, which, argues Rabbi Fohrman, is an opportunity rather than a curse.
It’s described extensively as Chet Eitz HaDaat (the sin of the Tree of Knowledge)
Humanity did have free will, the choice of eating from the tree or not.
It was a clear choice,
Not between Utopia or not, but between doing G-d’s Will or not,
without the rationalizations that the mis-use of knowledge can be brought about, where evil can be made to appear to have good.
The Garden of Eden story, and its consequences, is explained very nicely (but long and elaborately) in the Chassidic Kabbalistic teachings.
(can e-mail a synospsis if you want)
BTW , these teachings deal very simply with the issue of Free Will.
(“The place of the Crown is above the Head”)
Free Will originates from Keter (the highest of the Sefirot), which is above Wisdom and Knowledge., and therefore cannot be understood by them.
Anyway,
You are far too generous with liberals.
They are not true to their own philosophy, (such as they claim it to be),
and all types of groups get ‘free passes’ whenever they violate any and all of their principles,
so it is pointless to argue the philosophy with them.
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It sounds like you have a deep understanding of the concept of free will and its fundamental place in Judaism. There are many paradoxes here that the Kabbalists and Chasidic thinkers have untangled. I hope one day to tackle the sources you mention.
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That is an interesting angle of today’s political fight Karen and means that left and right – or their viewpoints – are as old as Mankind?
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Saul Alinsky’s “Rulebook for Radicals”,
was dedicated to “the first radical known to mankind, Lucifer”
( forgot the exact quote, and still shudder at the evil the book has caused,
Herman Cain was taken down by following it’s rules, to attack him with baseless accusations, until he could be removed as a threat to Obama, )
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Herman Cain was taken down by the media screaming at the top of their lungs about what a sexual criminal he was. The same media that couldn’t find the time to say anything about John Edwards when he was running for president even though the evidence was right in front of them instead of in 20 year old severance agreements. And this is the same media that looked at far worse charges against Bill Clinton but kept reminding us it was “only about sex”.
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Bill, yes, as they say, “as old as creation.”
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Exdem – would you tweet that so I could retweet it ?
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Jackie,
have never tweeted, and anyway can’t do it from the computer i’m using.
feel free to retweet it as your own
)
(am honored
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Copy & pasted it in a couple of discussions. Since the US is so far left maybe we should vote for out there Ron Paul & he can bring us back to the center.
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