Wednesday, November 30, 2005

The Hillel You Say

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?

These words have been attributed to great thinkers spanning the scope of human history from Krong the Prognathic, ruler of Caveland, to Mike Gorbachev, who, I guess, might be called “caver of Rule-land.” Ron Reagan was said to have originated this phrase, as have been Catherine the Great, Louis the Adequate, and Ethelred the Pathetic Loser.  Such wisdom seems to supercede individuality, and therefore, even though the words are in the public domain, professional quotologists consistently misattribute them. Frankly, it’s a pity, because the true originator of this adage was one of the greatest thinkers ever to put on one of those tall pointy thinking caps and thinkify.  Hillel was (stop me if you’ve heard this before) the “Nasi,” or head rabbi, in Jerusalem around the time of Jesus, with broad spiritual and secular sway among the hebrew people (or “heeple").  His wisdom continues to inform the course of modern judaism and of western ethical philosophy in general.  No Gorbachev, he - Hillel was truly a man who rose above his age and spoke to the millenia.

But that doesn’t mean that he just automatically knew just exactly what to say at all times.  He, like all of us, got tonguetied on occasion.  He attended “Toastmasters” and took a Learning Annex course on “Meeting People through Public Speaking.” He worked tirelessly on his material, often changing a sermon completely between afternoon rehearsals with his students and that evening’s studio broadcast.  He was tollerant of others, but a perfectionist when it came to his own work.  And that, largely, is why he’s now dead.  That, and the lapse of about 2000 years since his birth, but I think it was mainly the perfectionism.

That perfectionism also holds lessons for us, just as did the ultimate end-product of his work.  His struggles to think and speak complex principles clearly and persuasively continue to teach us the intellectual process.  It is said (this is true) that, when he was an old man, he was called before the roman occupier of Jerusalem and ordered to explain his faith of judaism, while standing on one leg.  He balanced himself and said, “do not do unto others that which is hateful to yourself.” Grounding his other leg, he continued, “the rest is commentary, go and learn it.” This is a technique I personally have found very useful in business meetings and political debates, and it has also improved my yoga practice.  So, Hillel still has much to tell us, both in his actual words, and in the efforts he undertook to articulate them.

Thus: my brazen and unauthorized “rogue philology” excavations in the old city (identity of actual city concealed to protect sources) have uncovered important evidence of Hillel’s intellectual process.  Before he published the adage with which this post begins, he tried out several other versions - each of which carried significance and wisdom, but which, for various reasons, he decided not to include in the final product.  However, these rejected adage fragments continue to teach us, both about human nature and about the nature and process of creativity.  For these two reasons alone, and not for any lucrative book deal that may ensue herefrom, I am pleased to regurgitate share the following:

REJECTED CLAUSES FROM HILLEL’S ADAGE:

If not me, who?  You?  Yeah, right.
If not you, who?  and if not YooHoo, how about a nice egg cream?
If not Turner, Hooch?
If not “not,” not-not?
If not now, maybe a little later, like after you’ve had a drink?
If not, why not?  Show your work.
If I wear this, does it not make my ass look fat?
Are you not going to finish that?
If not medical school, have you considered the rabbinate?

Wise words indeed, from a man with much to say. Or who would have much to say if he weren’t so terribly deceased.  And maybe that’s the most important lesson of all.