Berakhot 32

Today’s reading questions the concept of free will that I was raised with: “Behold, like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel.” I always thought that free will was at the core of Judaism; it is at the essence of the Adam and Eve story, which is the first one I learned in Hebrew School. But it is more complicated than that. I am beginning to understand through the daily Talmud readings the tension between man’s free agency and an omnipotent Lord who appears punishing when his will is not followed. We have free will to live our lives and follow our dreams, but our Lord also expects us to do so within the confines of living a righteous life (as he has defined it). 

Today’s text contains a blueprint for living a righteous life that is simple and thought-provoking in the context of free will: Torah, good deeds, prayer and occupation. If one’s life is lived according to these elements, is he following his own will or God’s? Can a life be considered virtuous if it contributes to society through good deeds and occupation, but does not contain prayer and Torah?

The text contains a passage that is troubling to me as a woman: it describes that if God is unable to bring his people to the holy land, there is doubt that he is able to fulfill his promise. The reference to “His strength weakened like a female” compares the Lord’s potential for a diminished capacity to a female, who throughout the readings to date appear as secondary and inferior to a man. Even considering this text dates back 2,000 years ago, and all the caveats that go with that, it is difficult not to become irritated with references like this one. 

Reading the Talmud each day is like a variety show with a little of this and a little of that. As a former graduate student in English Literature I am always looking for the narrative thread, which is of course, the wrong way to read the Talmud. I am learning to read and think differently each day.