Non-Jewish wisdom and personal growth: a Torah perspective

 “Chochmah Bagoyim Ta’amin”: A Torah Perspective on Modern Classics of Personal Growth” was the title of the Munch & Lunch discussion led by Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg for the members of Beit Knesset Hanassi last Sunday. The following are notes on this sesssion that were kindly taken by Dr Pessy Krausz:

In his fascinating combination of sources, Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg laced his introduction to the subject with ideas drawn from a non-Jewish author, Greg McKeown.  Although McKeown’s basic concepts were published as a self-help book as recently as 2014, Rabbi Kenigsberg developed them further by drawing on Judaism’s more ancient sources—among them the writings of Rabbis Aharon Lichtenstein and Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Avraham Kook, the Rambam as well as Kohelet and the Shulchan Aruch. 

Rabbi Kenigsberg introduced the topic pointing to Avraham’s response to the Hittites living in Canaan, "ger v'etoshav anochi imachem" (“a stranger and a resident am I among you”), when he was negotiating the purchase of a burial place for his wife Sarah (Bereishit 23:4). This phrase highlights Abraham's status as an outsider who was living among the local population but did not yet own any land there. His situation mirrors a primary as well as secondary aspect: he was a stranger and resident. Which was more essential for Abraham? The topic led to considering the viewpoint of Rabbi Hirsch that Torah study should be a primary objective which can be applied to scientific studies since Torah contains intrinsic truths. The problem arises when the reverse exists. Therefore individuals must decide which is essential and which secondary—and  how to apportion time and focus. 

Rabbi Kenigsberg discussed how this dilemma has echoes in the concept of McKeown’s  Essentialism, where he makes a compelling case for achieving more by doing less. The author aks: 

Have you ever found yourself struggling with information overload? Have you ever felt both overworked and underutilised? Do you ever feel busy but not productive? If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is to become an essentialist—the pursuit of less. Acquiring clarity of focus which requires the ability to say 'no'.  

 More easily said than done!

 A 2012 New York Times article, “The busy track”, suggested that being busy is a boast disguised as a complaint. The problem is to prioritise. Rather than do more, try to do less.

This idea is reflected in Kohelet Rabbah. When a person leaves this world, he has not fulfilled half of what he wanted to achieve. Activity and spirituality may not be in accord. But for Mesillat Yesharim, one’s spiritual drive is to be ever closer to Hashem. 

Rabbi Kenigsberg drew on four guidelines in Essentialism, linking them to Jewish sources.

 1. Zehirut = Mindfulness. Be aware of what we are doing. Sometimes we are doing so much it could be called “Motion sickness”! Rambam’s chilling insight into “busy-ness” is that, at the end of the day, we have nothing to show for it.

 2. Saying No. It takes courage to eliminate the inessential. Kohelet offers a framework. For everything there is a season under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck, a time for war and a time for peace. This suggests there is a time for everything—but not all at the same time. Even though there is a time to laugh and a time to cry during the this traumatic war in Israel and Gaza which began on 7 October 2023 we sadly seem to laugh and cry at the same time. 

3. Trade-offs. Life is said to be a process of trade-offs. When we say “yes” to something we say “no” to something else.  We must know our priorities. A non-essentialist approaches every trade-off by asking, "How can I do both?" Essentialists ask the tougher but ultimately more liberating question, "Which problem do I want?" An essentialist makes trade-offs deliberately. A Torah example of priorities comes in the request of the tribes of Gad and Reuven (later joined by the half the tribe of Manasseh) They declare to Moses their wish to remain on the east side of the Jordan River, reasoning that it would provide a fertile environment for their cattle and children. Assuring Moses that they would leave all, should war be declared, joining their brethren and leading the fight. In repeating their claim Moses inverted the order, putting children before cattle and thus highlighting priorities.   

 4 Margins. We see margins round the edges of articles in books and between paragraphs. These create space and make words meaningful. In the same way we need to create marginal space in life to help us focus. Shabbat and Shmittah make us pause and give us built-in opportunities to reflect. 

Rabbi Kenigsberg concluded this exercise by quoting Hillel’s guideline (see Avot 2:5):

 Do not say “I will study Torah when I have time frfom my obligations”. Rather, “I will make time for Torah study and then continue with my other obligations”.