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Beraishit Hashem saw that the light was good, and Hashem divided between the light and the darkness…..Hashem made the sky and it separated between the water below the sky from the water above the sky. It remained that way….Hashem said, "The waters under the sky should be gathered to one place and dry land shall be seen." It happened….Hashem saw that it was good. Our Rabbis point out that the second day, when the sky was created, is not referred to as "it was good" while during the other six days the work is referred to as "it was good". Among the explanations given is: When something comes to divide and separate we can not refer to the event as good. Unity is good, division is bad. However, just a bit earlier on the first day, we find the division between light and dark referred to as good. The Rebbe of Seret Vishnitz z"l responded: The division between light and dark was between two different things. However the division by the firmament between the waters, divided what is exactly the same. He continued, "Divisions between the Orthodox and the deviant movements are a division between light and dark, however, why should there be division in the Orthodox camp?" Rashi noticing the discrepancy comments, "The separation of the waters on the second day were for the purpose of gathering them together to create the sea and the dry land which was done on the third day, and so only then - when the work was completed - is the work referred to "and it was good." Perhaps we can develop this thought a bit further: We live in a time that all is expected to be equal. Equal rights are demanded, equal opportunities are sought. Affirmative action programmes are put into place to be certain that any natural discrepancy in the averages are eroded. What we end up with is not equality rather it is sameness. Women the same as men, the ignorant the same as the learned, the fool the same as the wise, the victim the same as the criminal. We expect that all should be the same and behave the same, a deviation from the mean to which we adhere to is frowned upon. We find it difficult that others may desire something different to ourselves. In Jewish terms we end up looking down on those more lenient than ourselves as unobservant and those more strict than ourselves as fanatics. Only exactly what we are doing is seen to be correct. This drive to sameness eventually leads to the worst kind of intolerance and destruction. Differences are valuable and lead to innovation and development. When we can accept that someone else's attitudes and desires can be valid, though it is different from our own, we leave room for innovation and growth in ourselves. This is true however only within certain parameters. Division and differences for their own sake can not be referred to as "it is good." It must lead to a purpose. Just as the division of the water when they were just divided could not be referred to "as it is good," so too, any divisiveness and separation. However when it is revealed that the division and separation had a purpose - that the waters on earth should be gathered together so that the dry land be revealed - the divisions had a purpose in ultimately bringing things together and revealing new opportunities and lands - then "it is good." Such divisions should be developed and encouraged so that all of us benefit in the long term. R' Yechezkel of Kuzmir would say: "The Jewish people can be compared to a full box of fine china dishes. The cups are different from the saucers and the plates from the bowls and each is used only by itself in its own course. Nevertheless, if the dishes are packed well and are tightly together, one next to another, the box can be moved about and none of the dishes will break. If it is packed loosely, even the slightest jar will break numerous dishes. So too with the Jewish people. Each is a different dish and the cups will gather with other cups and plates with their own kind. If all live at peace and harmony with the others and allow themselves to be packed tightly together making room for one another in the box, we can not be harmed. If however, there are arguments amongst us and each demands his own space and area or even his own private box, we can not withstand the slightest disturbances. |
