Torah For Today! This week: Dominic Cummings
Rabbi Ariel Abel looks at the controversy caused by the Government advisor who travelled across the UK during lockdown
Rabbi Ariel Abel is based in Liverpool
Government adviser Dominic Cummings (pictured) and his wife Mary Wakefield drove 260 miles to his parents’ farm in Durham during the Covid-19 lockdown, despite restrictions on travelling across the country.
So, what does the Torah say about setting an example for the public?
Rabbi Lippa Rabinowitz, former principal of the Manchester Jewish Grammar School, always insisted upon following the example of behaviour outlined in the Torah verse (Numbers 32:22): “You shall be (of) clean (hands) before God and before Israel”.
As with justice, so it is with public moral example that senior leadership advising government must be especially careful to show the way.
In Liverpool, deputy mayor, Councillor Lynnie Hinnigan temporarily resigned from duties since a surprise gathering was held in her back garden to mark her 50th birthday.
Even though she did not know beforehand, as it was a surprise, and social distancing measures were all complied with, she felt it correct nonetheless to take responsibility.
At a time when so many people are cooped up in flats, in hot weather, in sickness and in health, unable to enjoy the outdoors, Boris Johnson’s chief advisor may indeed have not technically broken the law, but the effect of such conduct is arguably the same.
As a result, the public would hardly be encouraged to comply.
In the aforementioned Biblical account, Moses the lawgiver and leader of Israel warned the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Menashe they could not expect to take their allotted land in the scheme of Israel’s settlement of the east bank of the River Jordan until they had also participated in and contributed to the settlement of the entire west bank.
They responded by saying their commitment to see through their own duty was beyond question.
Mitigating circumstances excepted, it is time that senior political leaders, paid from the public purse, take responsibility.
Rabbi Ariel Abel serves Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation and is padre to Merseyside Army Cadet Force
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
