Yevamot 121a: Swimming in the rough waters of crisis
Crisis is a term everyone I know is familiar
with and experiencing it. It is something that has been around in each generation, going back
all the way to Biblical times. We know that a “crisis” can take many
different shapes and forms; counting from personal, to social collective, and to global platforms. I imagine that many of us consider the COVID-19 as being present in all of these platforms. Its also being manifested on the physical, emotional, psychological,
economic, political, nationwide and worldwide levels.
There are different ways how to
handle crisis. Each one of us deals with challenges and struggles in their own
way. Some internalize the issues, others seek to have conversations that might
relief emotions, or others just fear with panic. It is not my intention to point a
finger to any one way to actually manage a crisis, but I have 2 midrashim from Talmud
Bavli, which demonstrate to us the main points I raised.
Have a look at these stories from Yevamot
121a;
Story 1:
“Rabban Gamliel said:
Once I was traveling on a boat, and I saw a boat that shattered and I was
grieved over the Torah scholar who was on board. And who was it? Rabbi Akiva. But
when I disembarked onto dry land, he came, and sat, and deliberated before me
about halakha. I said to him: My son, who brought you up? He said to me: A plank from the boat came my way, and to every wave that
approached me I nodded my head".
...........
Story 2:
“Rabbi Akiva
said: Once I was traveling on a boat, and I saw a certain boat sinking at sea,
and I was grieved over the apparent death of the Torah scholar who was on
board. And who was it? Rabbi Meir. But when I
disembarked at the province of Cappadocia, he came, and sat, and deliberated
before me about halakha. I said to him: My son, who brought you up from the
water? He said to me: One wave
carried me to another, and that other wave to another, until I reached the
shore, and a wave cast me up onto dry land.”
These stories, which show up on the same
page of the Gemara, seem to have a lot in common. First, the rabbis use water
as the metaphor for crisis. Interesting. Water could be life giving and
cleansing, and at the same time – it could also be dangerous with uncertainty. So,
although the challenging experiences, the rabbis survived the harsh waves.
Secondly, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Meir
survived from drowning at sea. Both were respected rabbis that were cherished by
their teachers; Rabban Gamliel, who was Rabbi Akiva’s teacher, and Rabbi Akiva,
who was Rabbi Meir’s teacher. And thirdly, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Meir did not
resist the waves. There was no panic and no fighting back. They saved their
energy to focus on what can be their inner strength to help them survive. Focus
on the NOW.
So what is the difference between these 2 stories?
At first glance, we will notice that what
is different is “a different attitude to the crisis”.
In Rabbi Akiva’s case, he holds on to a board
that fell off the boat. It is said “daf” which in Hebrew refers to a
page in the Torah. He is holding on the essence of Torah, which means - faith.
And when nodding to each wave that passes he shows gratefulness that he
survived just another wave. This is also a source of strength to accept the
reality as is. I imagine that when accepting a crisis, it might be easier to
deal with it later.
In Rabbi Meir’s case, who is also holding
his position and just allowing the waves to carry him closer and closer to
shore, we see how he shows his acceptance to the crisis by “going with the
flow”.
Rabbi Akiva was active, while Rabbi Meir
was passive. Hope, faith, surrender… can work if we choose to.
What I learnt from these 2 stories about myself is that I will not judge
or condemn someone who deals with crisis in a different way than I do. I will remember
that although there are different ways to deal with crisis, there is also a way
to reach out to those who struggle, to show them they are not alone, and demonstrate
care and compassion.
What about you? Any other comments you can share?
