What Makes us Equal?

Who is obligated to observe every law in the Torah? Every Jew.  

The only freedom we have is the freedom that Hashem gives us when we follow His law.  This is justice. Justice is freedom.  

At Meriva, Hashem commanded Moshe to speak to the rock to give forth water. Instead, Moshe hit the rock with his staff and then commanded it to give water. Moshe broke the law by not listening to Hashem. He was punished.  

Aaron played a role in building the golden calf. He broke the law. He was punished.  

Miriam committed Lashon Hara. She broke the law. She was punished. 

Every day, we are commanded to remember how Aaron and Miriam were punished because they broke Hashem’s law.   It is an eternal testament to what makes us equal. It’s not our color. It’s not our gender. It’s not our social, financial, cultural, or even political status.  

What makes us equal is our uniform obligation under the law. The three great leaders of the greatest generation that ever lived all broke Hashem’s laws at one point in their lives, and they were all held accountable.  

Then, Now, and Afterwards 

We, the Jewish People, are a people of laws that everyone is equally obligated to follow. According to Rambam’s 11th Principle of Faith, everyone is rewarded and punished based on their adherence to Hashem’s law.  

When you let people get away with major crimes, the law breaks down. The weak are no longer protected and the poor are left to fend for themselves.  

Those who have the most to offer society are left unprotected by the barbarians who take advantage of the lack of restraint on their physical actions. A brute can harass an intelligent man to the point that he spends more time defending himself or pacifying the animal than he does pursuing something that benefits everyone.  

As a result, the development of a nation stops. Society becomes a jungle where only the strong survive.  In a world without justice, the strong can do whatever they want. The weak have no protection. The poor and disadvantaged can be abused by anyone.  

The “haves” can be distinguished from the “have nots” because the “haves” are the godless, the corrupt, and the deceitful. Hashem hates deceitful people. He hates the wicked. He hates those who oppress the poor, the widow, and the orphan.  

Like countless nations that descended into the rule of chaos, Hashem will wipe the “haves” off the map and cleanse human history of them. Only the just will endure.   

We pray every day, three times a day in the Alienu prayer that Hashem will become King over all the earth and that every inhabitant of the world will serve Him.  On that day, we will all be obligated to follow Hashem’s law. There will no longer be “haves” who get away with murder and treason, and “have nots” who pay for everything.  

The Torah Makes Us Equal 

Hashem gives us the Torah. He requires that all of us follow it. We are all equally obligated under Hashem’s law.  It requires all of us to act in a Godly and Holy manner.  

This is liberation.  

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David Ben Horin lives in the Jezreel Valley with his family,  Afula’s famous sunflowers, and the local camel, Matilda. David loves to write about Judaism, Torah, Israel, and personal happiness.