As A Driven Leaf

Fear is typically assumed to be a negative emotion. But not in Judaism. Even the standard biblical Hebrew word for fear is commonly translated as awe, not fear. I have been wondering how Jewish tradition can help me process (and decrease) my fear of an infinitesimally small and deadly virus.

Jewish texts recount many times filled with fear. Abraham feared for his safety when lodging in Egypt. The Israelites feared the onslaught of their Egyptian pursuers in the desert. Joshua was afraid before leading the people in battle. Fear is a constant throughout Jewish history.

Fear reported in our sacred texts was typically rebuffed by theological reassurance: take heart, have courage, and trust in the Lord. And what is to become of the panic, anxiety, worry and distress? The negative emotion should be redirected toward God, transforming fear into awe.

To complete the theological journey, fear is reinterpreted as the yin to wisdom’s yang. The formula for overcoming fear is spelled out by the texts. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10. “Without fear there is no wisdom, without wisdom there is no fear.” Pirke Avot 3:21. Jewish thought transforms the negative emotion of fear into a first step toward knowledge and, subsequently, achievement.

Our goal is to transform negative energy into fuel for improvement. The road ahead is treacherous only for the faithless among us or for those whose journey does not take them from fear to wisdom. This admonition is given expression in parshat bekhukotai, read this week in Torah. We are warned that if we forsake God we will suffer such that we will live in fear. So fearful that we will be frightened even by the sound of a driven leaf.

We now live in a time where the sound of a driven leaf is frightening. What used to be ordinary has become daunting; like the proximity of a stranger walking on the street or the cleanliness of a door handle we touch. An invisible and seemingly unstoppable pathogen torments us daily. We can’t control the virus; only our own response.

All of us are fearful. Some will persevere. Some will suffer. The Jewish guidance endures. First, have awe and respect for the Creator and creation. Wake each day with a sense of wonder and gratitude. Second, don’t let your fear deplete your resolve. Rather, let fear be a reminder to pursue wisdom. Make sensible choices to protect yourself and protect the future for others.

The Jewish response, which is the response we need now, is to have hope and to make smart choices. And when this pandemic is over, may we be blessed to return to fearing less dire things – like being stuck in a traffic jam or developing new age spots. In fact, let’s remember to say a blessing the next time we are stuck in traffic or find a new age spot. They will remind us that our fear was temporary and our resolve was strong.

Rabbi Evan Krame