On Sunday we celebrated Shavuot, the day God gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. It was a transformative moment in history. Additionally, in Israel, it is the time of the harvest of grain. This week, I will share thoughts on four verses in the Torah which impact my life. 

Human Nature

Following the flood God brings because “the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was and filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11), the Torah records that God resolved, “Never again will I doom the earth because of man since the devisings of man’s heart is evil from his youth …” (Genesis 8:21).

This is a critical statement about human nature—our inclinations and desires. At times we must struggle with our inner desires (such as lashing out when we are angry). Indeed, if humans were so good by nature, God would not have given us 613 commandments to follow.

Perhaps most important for parents, if human nature is not so terrific, a priority should be to influence and teach children to be good (teach them to share their toys, to not bully other children, to have gratitude).

It’s important to note the Torah is not conveying that people cannot be shaped and influenced into becoming decent and moral. In fact, much of the Torah is a blueprint to create such individuals and society. Indeed, I wish human nature were different. And yet, the key to making a better world is to appreciate the reality of the raw material we are, and devote our efforts to making ourselves and those around us better.

—Rabbi David Woznica
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