One of the greatest things about our country, the United States of America, is that built into our Constitution are inalienable rights and freedoms. It is the understanding that as citizens of the United States we have these rights guaranteed by the Constitution to all its citizens.

However, what happens when individual freedoms come in conflict with society’s greater needs? For example, while you have the individual right not to wear a mask, if society’s need will be served, shouldn’t the greater societal need override the individual’s right? While the Constitution provides us with the right to bear arms, does that mean that you are allowed to go into a store and shoot it up? While the Constitution gives us the right to freedom of speech, does that mean you have the right to use your speech to incite riots?

We, Americans, are at a very critical point in our history. Our society has been divided and pulled to extremes where many no longer listen to or even respect the other side’s point of view.

The Gemara tells us that while Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel would be on opposite sides of Halachic decisions, the Gemara notes that they ate at each other’s tables, and allowed their children to marry each other. In Judaism, it’s a little bit easier. We have the Torah to guide us, and therefore, we have a certain understanding
of how to balance our individual freedoms and rights with the greater good of the community. My concern is that many have allowed their own individual rights and freedoms to supersede the needs of the community. I hope and pray that, regardless of what side you are on, we can all use this critical opportunity to reunite, listen to and respect each other more, work to find common ground, put community before self and tone down the rhetoric, so that we may be able to find a place in the center where we can all live in harmony.