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 YOM KIPPUR - SEPTEMBER 16, 2002 Once upon a time, in a village on the far side of the Euphrates River there lived a young man. And his mother. And the mother had magnificent dreams for her son. She wanted him to be CEO of the Hebrews. But, unfortunately, her son whose name was Jacob --- I do not want to reveal last names --- had an older brother, Esau --- again no last names, and first born son Esau was entitled to be Hebrew CEO. Rebecca, the mother, convinced Jacob to dress in a sheepskin, lower his voice and pass as Esau. That way he would receive the number one position from his blind father Isaac. Well, the ruse worked, Jacob received the birthright, the blessing and thus began centuries of individual and eventually corporate greed. Of course, Jacob couldn't appreciate his ill-gained power. Esau, upset by Jacob's actions, forced his brother to leave town. So Jacob left, for 21 years, perhaps riding on the company camel. The Bible doesn't say. From the time of Jacob until the era symbolized by Enron there have been those who have acted unethically, perhaps illegally, to acquire power. In recent times this power has been manifest not by becoming CEO of the Hebrews but by acquiring wealth --- and enough is never enough. I must admit I know the syndrome of endless acquisition. Know it first hand. You see, I am an amateur archeologist and my first year at a dig in Israel my pick sliced through the dirt and split a 4" tall clump of mud; except it wasn't mud. It was a 2,700 year old bust of the Egyptian ruler Pharoah Necco. A cultic figurine. Triumphantly I showed my find to the dig director anticipating accolades, fame and fortune, a featured role in the next Indiana Jones movie. Except this version would be entitled Indiana Dan and The Secret of the Hidden Pharoah. And oh, the sequels to follow! The director of the excavation looked at the head I had uncovered, fingered the black headdress protruding from the bust, smiled, patted me on the head and asked "Dan, where is the rest of the body? You only found the head." Deflated, I spent the remaining weeks on the dig searching for the arms, the torso, the legs. I searched and I searched but I never found the torso. Although Indiana Jones never called me, as days, weeks, passed and my find went on permanent display in a museum in Jerusalem I understood that my discovery was more than sufficient --- but how easily I had succumbed to desiring more and more and more. Ah, well, that is human nature, I thought. We are never satisfied. It has been said that success is getting what you want and happiness is wanting what you get --- and I am not sure we are living in times of great happiness or contentment. Perhaps we forget that it is not the house we live in but the house that lives in us that creates fulfillment. This is a house with rooms filled with love, spiritual satisfaction, inner peace - and those who possess these qualities possess a precious power. A question. What was wrong with Jacob deceitfully acquiring the birthright that should have gone to Esau? Was it the fact that Jacob had behaved unethically? When Esau discovered Jacob's deceit do you think Esau said to his kid brother: "Jacob, I know that God hasn't given us the Ten Commandments yet. --- But, in the meantime, I would like to go on record that you have dealt unethically." No, that's not what Esau said. He was far more pragmatic. ÔJacob, you took from me. You deprived me." The criticism of the corporate greed that made headlines in this country this past year developed not necessarily because of their immorality but because tens of thousands were financially affected by the acts of a few. Yet, underlying our concern lies a very basic ethical concept expressed by the prophets: "Let justice well up as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream." Most individuals in our society do act justly. Most individuals mean well --- are good people. Our world is not corrupt as some would suggest and overall America and Americans remain world models but the events of the past year serve as a wake up call --- reminding us of how easily we can begin the precarious slide downhill --- and take others with us. Some years ago I asked a class of young people. "What would you do if you were in a restaurant and the waitress added the bill incorrectly, saving you $2.00?" Without hesitation a boy answered. "I wouldn't say a thing. It's only $2." "And if it were $50?" He replied. "Well, I guess if I didn't say anything then, that would be stealing." But $2 becomes $50, and the response to $2, eventually becomes a principle we can apply to far larger amounts. If we discard ethical principles at any level then we expose ourselves to any possibility. In the meantime our friend Jacob, richer because of his father's birthright, but poorer as a human being is on his way to his uncles house where he will take refuge. I wonder if, in the course of his travels, he considers what he did. If so he might wonder why he ever listened to his mother. He might have said, "Mom, with all due respect, why do I have to dress in silly sheep skins and, excuse me Mom, but what we're doing - well, is it right?" Rebecca probably would have answered. "Jacob. Don't worry. Everyone is doing it --- sheep skins are in fashion - and you are entitled to the birth right; you're far more capable than Esau." So, without another thought Jacob dressed in sheep skins and went with the flock. One of the interesting ethical situations this past year concerned two of our finest universities, Princeton and Yale. A member of the Princeton Admissions Department, supposedly to test the computer system broke into the Yale Web site and acquired the names of individuals admitted to the incoming Yale freshman class. In the process he violated privacy and confidentiality. Although my understanding is that the event did not have a malicious intent, the actions were foolish, they were wrong and Princeton accepted full responsibility. But When the President of Princeton released a statement explaining the incident she revealed that before anyone raised an objection the wrongdoing had been reported by the individual at fault to other members of the Admissions Department to the Dean of Admissions, and to a meeting of Ivy League admissions officers --- and along the way no one asked the question. "Is this wrong?" No one. And that also was Jacob's problem --- Jacob who never heard of Yale or Princeton. Jacob listened to his mother --- instead of to himself. Yes, he failed to realize that the ultimate judge of right and of wrong was himself. Now for the good news. After 21 years Jacob finally faced himself. It happened when he decided to return home. Along the way he encountered his brother Esau. What did Jacob do? For a second time he might have run from his brother but instead he had a dream ---- and in the dream he wrestled with an angel. According to the Bible Jacob prevailed. He won. The next morning he met with Esau, accepted responsibility for his actions, acknowledged his wrongdoing and the two brothers were reconciled. With whom did Jacob wrestle? Who was the angel? His own conscience. What did he win? His own sense of self. We are all flawed. That is part of the human condition but we are all granted the opportunity to become reconciled --- if not with others, then with ourselves. Providing, like Jacob, we wrestle with the still small voice within, the voice of conscience. A cartoon in the Lexington Herald Leader portrays a man reflecting on the world. He says: "I still believe in humanity, despite terrorism." "I still believe in Democracy despite the 2000 election." "I still believe in God, despite the church scandals." I still believe in capitalism, despite Enron." "I still believe in peace, despite all the wars." Then, looking in a mirror he concludes "I still believe in myself, despite me." In spite of ourselves we all have the potential to be more than we are --- to come closer to the dreams we have of the kind of man, of woman, of child we want to be. But we can believe in ourselves only when we are honest with ourselves. According to legend when God created man in God's image the angels complained. "God, if you create man in your image he will think he is divine. He will be like us." God listened. "What do you suggest I do?" God asked. The angels took counsel. "Hide man's divinity from him." "Where?" And the angels said, "Hide his divinity in himself. He'll never look there." No matter who we are we can always believe in the divine aspect of man and woman, hidden though it may be on occasion. Heinrich Heine said, "God will pardon us. It's his business." Wrong. It is our business. We are all flawed but whoever we are we can wrestle with ourselves and become reconciled to ourselves. That is the meaning of the Day of Atonement. That is the gift of new beginnings --- on a corporate level. On an individual level. The poet Edgar A. Guest wrote: I have to live with myself, and soAnd Jacob? Well, Jacob returned home. After 21 years. Returned home. To himself. The only home worth visiting. Finally he became CEO of his own spirit --- of the potential that made him, and all humanity but little lower than the angels. Thank you Jacob. Thank you for charting the journey we can follow. Even if we do not become CEO. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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