The seven pillars of wisdom that sustain a balanced life - The Jewish Chronicle

How are you coping today? Even as the pandemic wanes, we are still faced with multiple problems: unhealthy screen addiction, political populism, climate change, increasing loneliness, a widening social divide, ideologically driven terrorism, prejudice and discrimination, the list goes on.

Existential challenges to the Jewish people, such as assimilation from within and antisemitism from without, only add to the level of worry and concern that so many of us feel on a regular basis.

A hyperobject is the term used for a phenomenon whose existence is so vast in space and time, and whose implications are so devastating, that it defies normal comprehension. To my mind, most of these problems are hyperobjects and this is borne out by our reactions to them.

Some keep reading the news in despair while others choose wilful ignorance or find comfort in idolising an idyllic past. Some get angry or advocate simplistic solutions, while more turn inward and focus self, family and friends.

As always, I look to my faith for direction. “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars.” So begins the ninth chapter of Mishlei, the biblical book of Proverbs. Wisdom, personified as a virtuous woman, is the running theme of this ancient work attributed to king Solomon.

But in this verse, the word is in plural form, chochmot, literally “wisdoms”. Commentaries understand this plurality in various ways. The seven wisdoms parallel the days of Creation, or they refer to seven kinds of wisdom, from Torah to science and philosophy. According to the 13th-century scholar Rabbi Menachem Meiri, “seven” is not to be read literally, rather it means several.

Most compelling for me is a midrashic analysis that relates the wisdoms to seven stages of life. “At a year old he is like a king under a canopy, kissed by all; then a toddler likened to a pig, sticking hands in gutters; at ten like a skipping goat…”

This, of course, is reminiscent of Shakespeare, although predating him by five centuries. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players… one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, mewling and puking… Then the whining schoolboy… then the lover…” (As You Like It).

These wisdoms are our different perceptions as we move through life and they reflect our constantly developing psychology. Such interpretations can help us handle hyperobjects.

But while Shakespeare’s final four stages are melodramatic (ambitious soldier, opinionated connoisseur, wizened gentleman, death’s door), the Midrash focuses these stages on building relationships and values: finding a partner, working hard, raising children, crowning achievement. Thus “wisdoms built her house” refers to how we can build a meaningful life for ourselves.

Living wisely challenges us to engage thoughtfully at every stage of life, it helps us manage hyperobjects without becoming despondent or numb. We are not overwhelmed by the complexities of the moment because we develop over time, allowing processes and change to unfurl our understanding of the world.

Jewish tradition grants us a realistic and staggered way of addressing hyperobjects. The rituals and cycles offer us invitations to take notice of the nuances of each particular moment.

Jewish life is not a haven from a harsh world, it is a framework for caring and engaging that gives us much needed perspective. Rather than drowning in worry or getting mad, the daily, weekly and annual structures of Judaism give us room to grow, respond, and find meaning.

Regular pray focuses us on our values and living each day with purpose. The weekly Torah reading, as well as our annual festival cycle, are opportunities to understand and respond to the urgent issues of our time.

On hearing the story of Noah and the Ark we can become concerned with preserving biodiversity. Sitting in a succah could encourage us to consider environmental sustainability, as well as the scourge of homelessness. Gathering in communities in general, eases loneliness.

Passover Seders teach us that freedom is precious and not easily won or sustained. Shabbat enables us to unplug from technology and re-engage in face-to-face conversation.

Lifecyle events — births, bar- and batmitzvahs, marriages and deaths — open our eyes to the challenges each life stage churns up, giving us an opportunity to celebrate and remind ourselves of what truly matters. Lifelong Jewish learning sparks ideas and debate, deepening the appreciation of our faith.

Rabbi Sacks, in whose name I am honoured to hold a new academic chair, wrote passionately of “a Judaism engaged with the world”. He believed that when Torah (Jewish learning) and chochmah (worldly knowledge) are united,+) then Jews become prouder and more involved in their faith and the world benefits from Jewish wisdom.

I would only add that this process takes place over a lifetime, through continuous and evolving commitment.

Chapter nine of Proverbs goes on to teach us how “Lady Wisdom” invests in life and values growth, while “Lady Folly” lives lazily and wastes opportunities. I find these thoughts on wisdom and her several pillars to be an honest and practical way to face up to the trials of today. It’s a Jewish vision for living wisely, with an open mind and a kind heart.

This is a digest of Rabbi Dr Zarum’s inaugural lecture as the holder of the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought at the London School of Jewish Studies