Few of us will have had time to forget the circumstances leading to the resignation of Claudine Gay as Harvard’s University President, or the immense shock and pain felt by the Jewish community over her official stance on statements concerning genocide of the Jews. Ms Gay has since been replaced by Alan Garber (“born … in a Jewish household”, per Wikipedia), who is seeking to reduce the level of tension and anxiety in what was, until recently, one of the world’s most revered and respected institutions.
The Harvard Gazette reported yesterday as follows:
Garber opened his address with
words of advice from the Talmudic compendium Pirkei Avot, or “Ethics of the
Fathers,” traditionally read on the Sabbath. “Find yourself a teacher,” he
said. “Win yourself a friend, and be one who judges everyone by giving them the
benefit of the doubt.”
Garber, who took the helm of the
University at a time of unrest over the war in Gaza, echoed themes he touched
on during Monday’s Convocation, urging members of the community to seek common
ground, treat one another with empathy and respect, and learn from the rich
diversity of views on campus.
He explained that finding a
teacher means seeking out people “whose experiences, skills and perspectives
are different from your own, and whose knowledge and wisdom often exceed
yours,” and “winning yourself a friend” requires offering “companionship, empathy,
concern, support, and trustworthiness.”
“We’re all too adept at
recognizing the flaws of our antagonists and even of our friends,” Garber said.
“It’s tempting to interpret the actions of others in the worst possible light.
It is better for all of us to do the opposite.”
Garber shook his head at recent
headlines saying the nation’s colleges and universities have no choice but to
brace for continuing disruption and unrest. He called it a “dismal notion” at
an institution like Harvard, which is “pushing the limits of understanding,
pursuing genuine excellence in every domain, and making ourselves, our
University, and the world better.”
These impediments can be avoided.
“This is not a time to brace ourselves,” he said. “This is a time to embrace
once another. We can do so by always keeping that third precept in mind. Be one
who judges everyone by giving them the benefit of the doubt. By reserving
judgment, we make it possible for others to know that they are part of this
community and that this community cares for them.”
Garber said the key was “to bring
to day-to-day interactions the same commitment to inquiry and discovery that we
bring to our intellectual pursuits. If and when tensions among us rise, I hope
that we will approach each other not only as fellow human beings, but as
potential teachers and friends”…
Professor Garber’s mention of Pirkei Avot—in this case the
teaching of Yehoshua ben Perachyah at Avot 1:6—is the latest example of the
citation of mishnayot in order to make a political point (see also the speeches
of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro here and here).
In this instance one can see why this mishnah is chosen: it reminds
its audience that Harvard is about teaching; it sends out a positive message of
friendship and it arguably also encourages people not to judge each other as
individuals and not collectively. The
message has a Jewish origin but is of universal application.
I wonder whether any other message from Avot was considered
and then rejected. At Avot 4:1 Ben Zoma teaches: “Who is honoured/respected?
The person who honours/respects others”. But perhaps asking the Harvard faculty
and student body to honour or respect one another is demanding too much. At Avot 3:18 Rabbi Akiva reminds us that we
are all created in God’s image—but this would scarcely impress those who do not
believe in God. And Hillel at Avot 1:12 urges us to love peace and pursue it.
Maybe, given the chasm that separates different definitions of “peace” in
Israel, in Gaza and on the Harvard campus itself, this would not be a consensus
teaching after all.
I’d be curious to discover what readers think of Professor
Garber’s statement and the appropriateness of his choice of Avot citation.
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