What Money, Fame and Pleasure Can’t Bring

In the middle of reminiscing of his time on Mount Sinai, Moses appears to stop for breath and reflect. What was this 40-year sojourn in the Sinai all about? Where did Israel go wrong? Can somebody please pull out a divine rulebook?

“And now, Israel, what does G-d, your G-d, demand of you?” [Deuteronomy 10:12]

That sounds like a reasonable question.

“Only to revere G-d, your G-d, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve G-d, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, by keeping G-d’s commandments and rules, which I am commanding you today, for your own good.” [Deuteronomy 10:12-13]

That sounds like G-d wants everything from us. He wants reverence, love, service, observance. That’s a 24/7 job. Where does this leave time for personal growth? I just signed up for membership in the golf club. I just paid for a season ticket to the opera.

Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev spent his life preaching the ways of G-d. Born in 1740 in Zamosc, today part of Ukraine, Levi Yitzhak roamed the countryside to find Jews willing to listen to Torah and observance. Steeped in modesty, he served as the rabbi of several towns until he reached Berditchev, where he become known as the “defense attorney” of Israel, one who would pray and sing to G-d to save the Chosen People from everything from the Cossacks to the brutal decrees of the czar.

In his work Kedushat Levi, Levi Yitzhak, commenting on this week’s Torah portion Eikev, asserts that a person must go through life with humility. His work and his achievements are not to be heralded. The exception is his service to G-d. No matter how humble, a man must not dismiss his study of Torah and observance of the commandments. Why? Because this human activity gives G-d pleasure.

G-d forbid that a man should be modest in the commandments of G-d and say, “How are my deeds important to G-d?” This is blasphemy. On the contrary, a man must say that in the area of commandments to G-d the deeds that I perform in G-d’s will are important in the eyes of the Creator, and He has pleasure from my deeds. [Kedhushat Levi on Parshat Eikev.]

Notice that the first thing Moses mentions in the Eikev verse is “reverence.” defined by Oxford as “deep respect for someone or something..” Reverence is far greater than fear and closer to or even synonymous with love. Fear of the master ends when he is away. Reverence has nothing to do with physical presence or threats. Reverence also indicates trust: What my master is asking goes beyond aggrandizement.

By keeping G-d’s commandments — and even this He does not ask that you do gratuitously, but “for your own good,” as you will receive reward. [Rashi on Deuteronomy 10:12-13]

The opposite of serving G-d is serving yourself. Bar Sheshakh, a Babylonian functionary, spent all of his time thinking and much of his time searching for the perfect pleasure. Once, the fifth century sage Rava visited Bar Sheshakh with a gift and found him sitting in a pool of rose water with naked women all around. The host was all smiles

Bar Sheshakh: Do you have anything as fine as this in the World to Come?

Rava: Ours is better than this.

Bar Sheshakh, who was not an idolator, repeated the question: “Is there anything finer than this?”

Rava: You have the fear of the government upon you. We will not have the fear of the government upon us in the World to Come.

Bar Sheshakh emitted a great belly laugh. I don’t fear the government. I am a powerful man.

At that point, a royal officer came in unannounced and told Bar Sheshakh to get dressed. “Rise,” the officer said, “the king requires you to appear before him.”

Bar Sheshakh’s mood was shattered. He was humiliated. As he was rushed out, Bar Sheshakh looked at Rava angrily and said, “May any eye that wishes to see evil upon you burst, as it is clear that you were correct.”

Rava replied “amen” and Bar Sheshakh’s eye exploded. His curse had turned on himself. [Talmud Avodah Zarah. 65a]

Perhaps the greatest hate one harbors for a devout Jew is that he simply doesn’t care. His model is the patriarch Jacob who prayed simply for “bread to eat and clothing to wear.” The Jew’s roof might be leaking. At least the sink works. He doesn’t shop at the House of Bijan. A white shirt and black trousers suffice. His hair has never been blow-dried. The skullcap is the most efficient solution. His neighbors pass him by in a Volvo while he walks to work. He’s grateful to use the two legs G-d has given him.

Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; Trust not in oppression, and put not vain hope in robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart thereon. [Psalm 62:10-11]

And one day, even some of the guys in the Volvo get it. The master guitarist and songwriter Mark Knopfler turned 76 this week. Nearly 40 years ago, Knopfler was driven. He wanted to be the most successful musician in rock, the most famous, and in total control over his band Dire Straits. Knopfler got his wish. Dire Straits became the most popular band in the 1980s, playing virtually every night in the largest stadiums in the world. But his climb to the top came at the cost of his marriage, his brother and partner as well as numerous friendships.

By 1986, after two years of touring the world, Knopfler wanted out. Yes, he had made big money. But he no longer felt in control: He was a performer in a flea circus. He lost interest in his songs. When Dire Straits were inducted in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, Knopfler did not show up. He walked away from one of the greatest bands in rock history. The rollercoaster lasted less than a decade.

“It just got too big,” Knopfler recalled. “If anyone can tell me one good thing about fame, I’d be very interested to hear it.”

When Knopfler figured this out, he underwent a significant change. He stopped wearing his rock outfit of tight jeans, tank top and bandana. He stopped fighting with his receding hairline and appeared as any other bald middle age man. His contact lenses were replaced by heavy black frame eyeglasses. He ended the stadium tours and performed in much smaller venues. His songs became softer, his voice more personal. On his third try, his marriage stuck and two children were born.

Moses’ message is that reverence of the Almighty leads to understanding. And understanding leads to love of G-d. It changes from “me too” to “only you.” And guess what? G-d gives you the gift that no amount of money, pleasure or fame can provide — contentment.

Don’t take the Torah’s word for it. Just ask Mark.