The Movement for Reform Judaism

However, what we see in these mitzvot is a complete amalgam of laws for very varied purposes: political, ritual, economic, moral and ethical.  And that’s what makes the mitzvot in Torah very different to the laws established in the UK and other countries where state and religion are maintained as distinct entities.  The Torah can command that a person respect his or her parents, but a Parliament cannot legislate for that.  Torah can require you to assist another person in lifting his fallen animal, but what law enforcement organisation will take on the task of seeing it implemented?  On the other hand, laws dealing with inheritance or criminal activities or marriage are very much the province of Parliaments, as part of their tools for good governance.  This difference between laws that are required to govern and, what I’m going to call, rules, those things that help to provide a decent society, is something that has become uppermost in the minds of politicians and the media at the moment.  Of course, in their usual mixed-up way, they believe that they can legislate for things that are impossible to enforce, but at least they are on the right track in highlighting the real issues facing our country.  The UK has become a lawless place, where drive-by shootings, gang warfare, drugs and drinking binges, are common-place.  We have a guns and knfe culture, especially among teens and twenty-somethings, that is frightening.  There is a complete lack of respect for authority, in any shape or form.  The idea that another person’s property should be off-limits is laughed at. 

Politicians of all parties score cheap publicity points; from hugging a hoodie Mr Cameron wants to now mug a hoodie, while Mr Brown will pass new laws if they’re needed.  They’re missing the fundamental issue.  What is happening could have - should have - been forecast because there were sufficient pointers to it and there is no single answer.  What we’re seeing is nothing less than a break-down of society.  It stems from failed political and economic policies and it has been fuelled by greed and disinterest over a number of years.  I’m not into a blame ethos and so I make the following statements in support of my theory without allocation of blame to individuals – just policies -  but you may well have your own thoughts on that.

An early cause of the problem was the political assault on teachers as part of the Trades Union bashing that was a feature of Government policy in the 70’s and 80’s.  That brought about a serious limitation of respect for teachers by parents and pupils and had the consequential effect of reducing standards in education.  But above all it created a two-tier system; those who were prepared to work got results, and those who didn’t disappeared from school.  The economic divide as a result of that are obvious.  But there was little attempt to redress the balance as part of society, in fact the very nature of society was denied.  And so the gap between the haves and the have-nots grew, an underclass had been created, and a disproportionate part of it was black.  However, despite that, policy remained to encourage a me-first society, indeed it was even me-second and third.  Another set of policies were based on everyone having rights; human rights, childrens’ rights, prisoner’s rights, but no-one ever mentioned responsibilities.  So, with an emphasis on consumerism, it was no wonder that those looking in from outside also wanted some of the good life and that led inevitably to crime.  The impact of that was that the prison population increased substantially and again it was disproportionately black.  And so young black kids grew up without fathers and role models in effectively single-parent families, with poor education and even poorer prospects.  A few became professional footballers, but many more hung around the streets, got involved in petty crime and finished up like their fathers, creating a vicious circle.  In the process, certain parts of our inner cities became virtual no-go areas, even for the police, who were themselves hindered by the dual blow of lack of recruitment and increased paperwork, which kept them off the streets.  Of course, it’s not only black kids who go wrong and not all kids who are black, but if we want to do something about it we can’t hide behind the Race Relations Act and bury our heads in the sand.  We also cannot ignore that it was white middle class policy that initiated and exacerbated the problems, either. 

So what can be done?  Well it’s no good wringing our hands as parts of the media and local and national politics seem to be doing.  And it’s no good looking for a single answer.  What is required is a sense of what we should expect from all the members of our society and to incorporate that into our education system, but more importantly it has to be reinforced in the home.  And so work has to be done, primarily in the inner cities, with the most deprived parts of our society creating an understanding of ownership and possession allied to giving those least able to provide for themselves something to own, something to possess, something to make them feel among the haves.  Working class men, especially black men, who have made good, without criminal activity, have to be encouraged to take on the position of role models, to demonstrate what is possible.  I don’t just mean footballers or rap singers, because very few can hope to emulate them, but men who have taken their studies seriously and obtained good jobs that pay better than signing on the dole for handouts. 

Those convicted of criminal offences have to be given sentences that deter others and they have to serve them, not be let out early because there aren’t enough prison places.  And particularly those who offend against the drug laws, those in possession and especially those peddling, should be regarded as though they were guilty of murder, because that’s where it so often leads, with no time off for good behaviour!  I am not in favour of a return of the death penalty for murder, but I do think that the taking of a life should be balanced by a life sentence.  And I also think that prisoners should have to work for their keep.  I don’t see why society should have to pay for them to laze around. 

Of course I want prisons to be civilised and to attempt to rehabilitate, but they are above all a place of punishment.  That isn’t - as some say - revenge, but it is retribution.  I believe that the only way to enforce the law is by demonstrating that breaking the law isn’t worth it!   There are other things that also need to be done.  Instilling a healthy respect for authority, ensuring that parents are supportive of greater discipline in schools, putting more police into more visible places, giving greater guidance to judges on sentences and making them more accountable for their sentencing stupidities, not playing politics with law and enforcement issues, all these would have a positive influence.  And the media must also recognise that the current situation has developed over decades and a resolution cannot be imposed overnight.  They, and we, have to be patient.  Nevertheless, the rot has to stop now and the fixing mechanisms have to be put in place immediately. 

Moses was laying out a system of laws for the long term and for the most part they still apply today.  Their strength is that they don’t rely on a police force to enforce them and a legislature to amend them to fit in with whatever is the current political hue.  They depend on an understanding that every component of a society is important, that all should enjoy the benefits of the whole, that each has not only rights but also responsibilities, and that morality and ethical living is the cornerstone of society.  So may it be here.  Amen.

Sermon given by Rabbi Maurice Michaels at SWESRS, Shabbat Ki Tetze 25th August 2007 

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