Riffraff Among Us: How Losing Identity Leads to Moral Decay - Bahalotcha

In this episode of "Truth Jewish Wisdom for Today," Levi Brackman discusses the Torah portion of Beha'alotcha from Numbers 11, highlighting the people's complaints and God's response. He examines the Israelites' grievances, including their lack of gratitude for manna and desire for meat, and contrasts this with their earlier complaints in Exodus 16, where they lacked food entirely. Brackman notes that in Numbers, the people are referred to simply as "ha'am" (the people) rather than "Adas B'nei Yisrael" (the congregation of the Children of Israel), suggesting a shift from a particularist identity to a more universal one.

Brackman argues that this universal view undermines their mission and commitment to their unique purpose as a holy nation. He references Moshe Koppel's book "Judaism Straight Up," which discusses the need to balance universal and particular perspectives. According to Brackman, losing a particularist identity leads to a lack of motivation and moral clarity, which he connects to contemporary issues of identity and moral confusion.

He concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing and embracing a distinct group identity to maintain moral and ethical behavior within and towards others. This recognition helps sustain a sense of purpose and commitment to the group's mission.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.