Parashat Re'eh: A World Without Poverty?
The article examines the tension in Parashat Re'eh between the vision of eradicating poverty and the recognition of its continued existence, comparing different interpretations. It links the discussion to the debate between revolutionary and gradualist approaches in socialism, and quotes Martin Buber and his book 'Paths in Utopia' as a defense of utopian socialism. The article emphasizes the importance of constructive experiments such as cooperatives and kibbutzim.
In Parashat Re'eh, Moses presents a vision of eradicating poverty, but also states that the poor will always exist. The article examines the tension between the verses 'There shall be no needy among you' and 'For the poor shall never cease out of the land', presenting various interpretations: Rashi sees the first verse as a command to act to eradicate poverty, while Rashbam sees it as a promise of reward for those who free slaves. The Sages offer an interpretation of reward and punishment. The article links this tension to the debate between apocalyptic and normative approaches in Judaism, and parallels it to the discussion in socialism between revolutionary approaches (Marx) and gradualist ones (cooperatives, kibbutzim). It quotes Martin Buber and his book 'Paths in Utopia' (1947) as a defense of utopian socialism, arguing that constructive experiments like the kibbutzim are an expression of rebellion against modern loneliness. The article concludes with a quote from Buber about the possibility that the utopian effort prepares the structure of future society.