Exploring Middot: Jewish Character Traits
Recently, during one session in my Introduction to Judaism course through URJ, we learned about Jewish values and character traits that are know as middot (plural of middah).
We reviewed a small list of middot along with a study guide, then each picked one that resonated with us to present during our Zoom class (https://reformjudaism.org/learning/sacred-texts/learn-about-middot).
Two middot particularly connected with me:
Middah Ohev HaMaysharim (the love of being straightforward)
Middah Pipul HaTalmidim (sharp discussions with students)
Ultimately, I chose Middah Pipul HaTalmidim to present to the class.
What does this middah mean in its simplest sense?
Essentially this middah is about “sharpening” one’s arguments, strengthening one’s ideas, and deepening one’s understanding through asking questions and debating in community. This middah is all about curiosity and unpacking concepts in a community dialogue.
Merely “thinking” in our own minds is insufficient to a fulsome understanding; we need to intellectual debate with others to challenge and masterfully refine our own precepts and ideas. Further, this middah is an invitation to us to seek understanding, turning to curiosity over judgment when we find ourselves at odds with others.
Why did I choose this middah?
It’s in my nature to learn and ask many questions. Indeed, when I completed the VIA Institute’s Character Strengths, my top one was “Curiosity”. Yes, I am endlessly curious. Lively discussions with others help me to learn and deepen my understanding of others ideas and experiences.
While sharing ideas and debating issues was welcome in my home life growing up, asking questions was nearly forbidden in my former religious life. Mormonism does not encourage curiosity; in fact, Mormonism demonizes congregants who ask questions, likely because if one were to ask too many questions, the facade of the Church’s controversial veracity and dubious history would be illuminated, and would fall quickly like a house of cards. Asking questions was the equivalent of doubting God’s authority, and how dare does one - especially a woman - question God’s word or instructions.
Mormon central leadership often declared as I grew up that the three major threats to the Mormon Church were feminists, intellectuals, and the LGBT+ community. When I reflect now on how dangerous, let alone diminishing, this embedded philosophy is, I am appalled that I stayed so long in a religious community where I was inherently rejected. I never fit the mould of a perfect and sweet Mormon girl, and I was often outcast for merely asking too many questions for the lay leadership. I wear my curiosity like a badge of honour, and frankly a sign of intelligence. While the Church’s goal was to belittle me, diminish my intellect and subvert my independence, in fact it galvanized my commitment to my values of curiosity and debate.
How do I connect with this middah in my everyday life?
This middah is completely entrenched in my everyday life. From a career perspective, I became a litigator, where my whole job is to make arguments and to intellectually unpack ideas. Moreover, all of my work experience has been committed to social justice, advocacy, and the amplification of oppressed voices, and this work is inherently controversial and possibly polarizing. Now in my current role as CEO for a First Nation, I live this middah everyday from governance issues with Chief & Council and advocacy for the Nation in all aspects.
Another way this middah shows up in my everyday life is through study for personal enrichment. From Torah study classes, to my whole commitment of conversion to Judaism, this middah is ever present to refine and craft my spiritual and religious knowledge.
What would you like to teach others regarding how this middah may speak to them?
I would like others to understand that healthy debate is not about divisiveness or conflict, but it is rooted in curiosity and a passion to learn and understand more about the diversity of our collective human experience.
Also, the fact that this middah can only be done with others, and simply cannot be done alone, necessitates to be in community and that we need the diversity of others’ experience/ideas to enhance and sharpen our own ideas. Each person we meet can effectively be a teacher to help us refine and strengthen our concepts and embedded ways of being.