Transgressions for a Noble Cause

On Shavuos night I spoke in our synagogue on the topic of Aveira Lishma, violating a transgression (an aveira) for a noble purpose. In the class, we discussed some of the parameters of this concept and its philosophical underpinnings. We analyzed a few examples of how and when it has been used in practice by various halakhic decisors and philosophically by the Chassidic masters.

Not surprisingly, this concept is fraught with spiritual danger. R' Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, for example, insists on two rules before transgressing even for an apparently noble purpose. First, the person can have no pleasure whatsoever from the transgression. Second, a sober calculation must be made as to the consequences, the benefits and losses, of this transgression. For example, though it is certainly wrong to start a communal argument, doing so may fall under the rubric of aveira lishma, if done with no malice or hope of gain, and after an analysis reveals that the argument will cause more good than harm (in fact, in a case brought before the R' Moshe Isserles, he allows publicly speaking ill of someone for the greater good of the community).

While I cannot think of a clear example of an aveirah lishma in the Chronicles of Narnia, it is one of C.S. Lewis’ main arguments used by the Devil in Perelandra, the second book of the Space Trilogy, to seduce the Queen to sleep overnight on Fixed Land  Interestingly, this same argument is put into the mouth of the serpent in the Garden of Eden by R' Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (the Devil, played by Weston in Perelandra, is of course, Lewis’ parallel to the serpent who seduces Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge).

Let us go step by step. Ransom, the protagonist of the first of Lewis’ Space Trilogy, “Out of the Silent Planet,” is sent to the young world of Perelandra (what we call Venus) by the Oyarsa (guardian angel) of Malacandra (Mars). There he finds the Queen, the native Eve (Tinidril) living a blissful life on a water planet of floating islands. This Eve awaits her reunion with the King, the native Adam (Tor) and has been commanded by Maledil (God) not to sleep on any fixed land.

It is not long before another Earth native lands on Perelandra. This is Weston, the antagonist of Ransom now clearly under the control of the Devil. Weston attempts to persuade Eve that she should violate the command of Maledil and sleep on the Fixed Land. He argues that though Maledil did command that Eve not sleep on Fixed Land, He did so secretly hoping that Eve would break the command. To sleep on Fixed Land would demonstrate “walking in your own way” and fully growing up:

If He told you to break what He commanded, it would be no true command, as you have seen. For you are right, He makes no jests. A real disobeying, a real branching out, this is what He secretly longs for: secretly, because to tell you would spoil all.

R’ Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (1843 - 1926) interprets the serpent’s argument to the (Earthly) Eve in this exact way:

The desire of the Creator is not to refrain from eating from [the Tree]. Rather, His desire is that you should eat from it and in this way come closer to being God-like such that you can overpower evil and destroy it… You should sacrifice both worlds (this and the World-to-Come) in order to achieve the honor of God and become close to Him. This is the path of a transgression for a noble purpose and, your doing so, is the true desire of God.

Of course, on Perelandra Ransom is able to counter the arguments of the Devil and the woman is saved. No such savior appeared in our world.

Reepicheep the Zealot

In our last post we demonstrated the parallels between Reepicheep’s entry into Aslan’s country, as portrayed in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with the ascendance of Elijah the prophet in a whirlwind to Heaven. However, this final parallel serves only to emphasize that Lewis modeled Reepicheep (at least partly) after the great prophet. Along with valiance, it is Reepicheep’s similarity to Elijah that provides insight into his character and actions throughout the Chronicles of Narnia.

What trait characterizes Elijah? Elijah himself answers that question when he asserts (Kings 1 19:10), “I have acted zealously for the Lord.” Elijah the Zealot is unafraid of taking on the 200 prophets of Ba’al on Mount Carmel. Elijah the Zealot doesn’t blink when threatened with arrest and imprisonment (or worse) by a phalanx of 50 soldiers, and it is Elijah the Zealot who can be, as it were, more zealous than God, appropriating for himself the power to withhold rain from the Kingdom of Israel (Kings 1 17:1).

Is Reepicheep a zealot? Merriam-Webster defines ‘zealous’ as, “fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal,” and a ‘zealot’ as a “zealous person, especially a fanatical partisan.” While no form of the word zeal appears anywhere in the Chronicles, the description seems appropriate for Reepicheep. Reepicheep is a fanatical partisan for Narnia, the country of Aslan. Our first glimpses already demonstrate this zeal loyalty to his king and his people. He is immediately at Caspian’s disposal, and, by suggesting storming Miraz’s castle as soon as possible, demonstrates his zeal of reviving Old Narnia. At the Battle of Beruna he and his mice storm into the heart of the battle. Reepicheep’s need to crush pirates, defeat dragons, battle unknown mermen, experience adventure, and achieve glory come not only from bravery or even valiance. Rather, because is a Narnian zealot.

How dare Terebinthian pirates attack the ship of the King of Narnia, such is a blasphemous act! A merman offers a challenge, how could the representative of Aslan turn away, it would suggest Aslan is weak! A taunt of a Telmarine dares to question Aslan’s assertion, Reepicheep will march his mice into another world to stand for the truth. Turn away from a Dark Island? Not explore all that could be explored? That would brand Narnia, and Aslan, as fearful and scared.

Zealots however, sometimes receive undue criticism for lack of mercy and an inability to connect with the common man. Perhaps there is truth to that, but both Elijah and Reepicheep show mercy and understanding to those in need. 

More in our next post.