AIG? OMG!
This week our attention has been drawn to the $173 million in bonuses being paid to AIG executives. Americans justifiably feel that any amount is too much to pay and lawmakers and citizens are burning with anger.
Half way around the world a very different story has played out this past week. There was some hope on Sunday that Israel would strike a deal with Hamas for the release of captured soldier, Gilad Shalit. The government claims that it was willing to pay an exorbitant price. And while some Israelis argued that the price of Hamas’ extortion was too high, many were willing to pay just about any amount. Rather than angry, Israelis ended up heartsick.
Clearly the situations are very different. But since they happened simultaneously, I can’t help reflect on the two.
Kidnapping was well known to Jewish communities of the middle ages and therefore halakhic sources deal extensively with the topic. Speaking of the allocation of limited communal funds, Rambam writes: “redeeming captives takes precedence over sustaining the poor and clothing them and there is no commandment more important than redeeming captives. The community may even reallocate money it collected for communal needs for redeeming captives.”
Rambam doesn’t say anything about allocating money for executive bonuses. But I can guess what he’d say. His teaching does speak to the priority of giving; it is a calculation of what needs take precedent. This is helpful in dealing with Shalit or our own tzadaka donations. I get the sense that our American society needs an additional lesson- not just on the priority of giving but on taking. Under what circumstances, for example, is it kosher for executives, athletes, rock stars, etc. to ask for multi million dollar compensation packages and bonuses? How much should we expect to earn when our co-worker or employees earn this amount; when our business nets this amount? I don’t have answers. But, just as our tradition teaches the value of life, so too can it offer insights into the values in life.
Even as the mess in our financial system gets sorted out, our thoughts and prayers remain with Shalit and his family. Just as God redeemed the Israelites, so may God redeem our captive soldiers.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davis
