#hefker

[ecology-torah-project]

[scalicilit]

Log- Ragtime/Research

The research that I had to do to supplement my reading of Ragtime didn't enhance my reading experience at all. I found that the book depicted all of the characters in a much more intimate, fascinating way than Wikipedia could ever dream of doing. I'm glad, though, that I decided to do the research after finishing the entire book. I opened up that first page with a clean slate and an open mind, which is how, I believe, most books should be read. This allowed me to fully consume the contents of each page without any pretense. This strategy, of coming into something with an open mind, is something I delved into this summer. The Hebrew word "hefker" means to be ownerless, chainless, and free of any biases. This concept of being hefker is a complicated one, both in literature and in life. Imagine going into a political conversation without any prior knowledge about the subject, and no strong beliefs that would make you more inclined to choose a side. How much more open would you be to listening to other peoples' viewpoints with appreciation and curiosity? In examining the idea of being completely unchained, it's clear that most people don't follow this principle. We each have a story, emotional attachments, biases, and political affiliations. Each one of us judges other people's opinions based on our own calculated perspectives. But how can society advance if so many humans are not willing to be hefker, not willing to be totally open to other opinions? It's true that being completely free is nearly impossible, especially nowadays in the age of technology (when opinions and arguments spread like an infectious spider bite), but it can also be quite dangerous. All of the positive aspects still remain, like reading a book with wide open eyes, or listening to someone else with open ears. However, there are times when prior research must be done, and being hefker is perilous. To be one hundred percent unchained could also be called being naive. Naivety, in children, is to be expected. But as time goes on, it becomes less tolerated, and could be mistaken for ignorance. In the case of the novel, Ragtime, I'm elated that I could go into this reading experience pure of mind- allowing me to digest every scene and character without any judgement. There are times in my life that I wish I could go into without any prior research- being totally hefker. But how hefker can I be in a cutthroat society that sags heavily with judgement?

Last year, I was on the debate team and I participated in Public Forum debates. This is essentially two teams of two, each assigned a position on a topic, arguing to the death- each trying to make the other look like a grade A idiot. My partner and I were nearly undefeated in the season, and we even went to nationals. But this year, I simply can't do it again. The thought of the mere concept makes my stomach writhe in guilt and sadness. Thinking back, I can't believe that I spent hours upon hours constructing a case about something I didn't care about or believe in, with the final goal of making myself look better for others in front of judges. I believe that this is one of the reasons peace is so difficult to achieve- people are more concerned with their pride and "winning" discussions, instead of trying to reach viable agreements or make progress. What does that say about our world? I'm embarrassed to have partaken in something that I find so disgraceful. This also plays into the concept of hefker- debate seems to be the exact opposite. Instead of walking into the room curious, excited to gain new knowledge and discuss it, debate encourages people to saunter in thinking that their way is the only way. If we continue to promote this, our society will regress- not the other way around. 

[independentjules-blog]

Excerpt from Hefker (Rough Draft)

When I am only empty eyes, I need to be burned. When I am weightless and moon color. I will be distributed to everything I have amounted to. They will take me to the Negev desert. This time I won't need two liters of water and a hat. I will still rest in the pond that we ate Popsicles by on the third afternoon. When I was alive, that desert made me feel Hefker, owner less. I will finally return to its outstretched body. Prepared to prove how truly Hefker I can be.

-November 19, 2012