Okay, I say all the time that there is no such thing as "Judeo-Christian values" and that the values are actually very different, so I figured I'd explain what I mean. Let's take "mercy" as the example. That's *got* to be a shared value, right?
ehhhh, well, actually...
ehhhh, well, actually...
As with all things, the English word "mercy" carries the connotations of the Christian conception of the virtue. The connotative value is that it's something bestowed on one who is undeserving. A forbearance from punishing someone who deserves to be punished.
Mercy, in this sense of holding back from punishment or rebuke, is a virtue that is only available to the powerful. It's a holding back from exercising power over someone else. And the recipient, almost by definition, isn't worthy of receiving it - that's what makes it merciful.
There are two words in Hebrew that are commonly translated as "mercy".
Rachamim (רחמים) and Chesed (חסד).
Rachamim shares a root with the word "womb". It has a nurturing, protective connotation to it. A sense of being held close, loved beyond love.
Rachamim (רחמים) and Chesed (חסד).
Rachamim shares a root with the word "womb". It has a nurturing, protective connotation to it. A sense of being held close, loved beyond love.
"Compassion" is another translation, or love, or tenderness. It's a rare word in the Torah - it only crops up a few times. The first two are in the story of Joseph. First, Jacob tells his sons to hope that "the man", Joseph, will be disposed to show them rachamim.
And then, later in the same chapter, it's the description of what Joseph feels when he sees his younger brother for the first time in so many years. Joseph hurries out, overcome by rachamim (it's a conjugation, but whatevs) at the sight of his most loved brother.
The connotation is not forbearance out of a lofty ideal of forgiving the unforgiveable, or holding back from an exercise of power. It's a connotation of overwhelming love and protectiveness. A feeling of compassion so intense that you can't bear to see someone suffering.
Chesed shares a root with eagerness, or zeal. It's commonly also translated as love or lovingkindness, and sometimes as faithfulness. It comes up frequently in the Torah in a lot of different contexts.
Early on it's used to describe unearned and/or unexpected kindness shown on the part of God or on the part of one person to another. It's used to describe commitment to honoring someone else's wishes, or a promise that has been made.
It comes up a lot in describing the proportional difference between God's kindness and God's anger - a serious infraction may bring God's anger on the third or even the fourth generation, but keeping the covenant brings chesed on a thousand generations
The connotative value is of an energetic eagerness to be good to people, to show compassion and kindness and love. The idea is that being loving, showing kindness, being generous brings so much joy that you just can't wait to put it out into the world.
It's not measured forbearance or holding back, it's an exuberant outpouring of goodwill and commitment. It's an explosion of kindness.
Neither of these words are about forgiveness, or about a forbearance from wielding power. They are both about feelings of love, kindness, loyalty, protectiveness, tenderness towards a subject. It's not about withholding, it's about extending.
The Jewish value that is translated into mercy is a value of loving your fellow humans (and God, and nature) so much, so overwhelmingly much, that making sure they are happy and cared for and nurtured and safe is more important than selfish desires, a reward in and of itself.
