c. 1996 Religion News Service

(Rabbi Rudin is the national interreligious affairs director of the American Jewish Committee.)

(UNDATED) I’m steeling myself for a barrage of rhetoric in the coming months as presidential candidates Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and Ross Perot race to Election Day. In an act of self-defense against this inevitable verbal onslaught, it’s only fair that this beleaguered voter retaliate with the political wit and wisdom of the Jewish tradition.

Bill, Bob and Ross should remember that public criticism of political leaders is a fact of life. Even the heroic, second-century Rabbi Akiba, who was arrested as a rebel by the Roman authorities and later executed as a martyr, was well aware that negative opinions about him existed among his people.

When the rabbi was first asked to assume a leadership role, he responded as leaders often do:”Let me consult my family.”His family urged Akiba to accept the offer, but the rabbi said:”I will do it even if it means being abused, even if it means being regarded as reprehensible.” And if today’s candidates think that harsh public judgment is something new, a third-century rabbi, Yohanan, had a fascinating proposal to keep politicians honest:”A basket of reptiles should hang behind every community leader, so if they become arrogant, the people may say, `Look behind you.'” Future impeachment proceedings and recall campaigns would certainly be more dramatic with the addition of reptiles.

The rabbis were familiar with another perennial problem of many leaders: They never know when to stop talking. A single rabbinic maxim says it all:”It’s easy for a leader to go up to a dais, tough to come down.” The ancient rabbis were also aware of the existence of what we today call negative campaigning. One leader wrote:”Should anyone attempt to oust me from office, I would go at him with a kettle. Even as the kettle scalds, maims or blackens, so would I go at him.”Talk about hardball politics!

Ancient Israel demanded full financial disclosure from its leaders. Chapter 38 of the biblical book of Exodus declares:”These are the accounts of the Tabernacle.”The rabbinic commentators understood this to mean that even the great Moses had to give the people a full”accounting of all the work on the Tabernacle … each and every item, whether gold, silver or brass.” But Moses forgot to list”… 1775 silver shekels that he used. He said to himself: `Now Israel will think they have good cause for saying I took the silver.’ So he proceeded to go over each and every item in the work.” President Clinton’s signature statement of empathy,”I feel your pain,”is nothing new. Chapter 17 of Exodus describes Moses sitting upon a stone. The rabbis wondered:”Did Moses have no cushion to sit on? Of course, but Moses said: `When the people of Israel are deep in distress, I must be in it with them.'” The ancient rabbis believed that, like Moses and King David, future political leaders needed to gain experience by”tending sheep”before they could assume high office. Not good news for Perot, who has never held an elective position. Of course, running a multi-billion dollar company with many employees might qualify the Texas millionaire as a trustworthy shepherd. But only the voters can answer that question.

The Jewish tradition offers Clinton some consolation as he struggles with Whitewater. A contemporary of Akiba, Rabbi Yose from Galilee, said:”May my portion be with those who, though innocent, are under suspicion.”And another sage proclaimed:”I was suspected of something I was innocent of.” And Bob Dole, at the politically advanced age of 73, might consider making the words of the Psalmist part of his campaign speeches:”Do not reject me now that I am old …” However, Dole’s claim that America’s past was better than the present would be challenged by the ancient rabbis. They insisted that each generation must deal with its unique problems and challenges without romanticizing the past, citing the words from the seventh chapter of Ecclesiastes for validation:”Do not ask why earlier days were better than these, for that is not a question prompted by wisdom.”Clearly, today’s oft-repeated phrase,”That was then and this is now,”is something the rabbis would appreciate.

Finally, the Jewish tradition understood the benefits of a governmental”safety net”for society:”Pray for the well-being of government … Were it not for the fear of government, the stronger would swallow the weaker … men would swallow one another alive.”

LJB END RUDIN