Unity Before Ideology

If we celebrate Independence Day by hearkening back to the words of our founders, we often turn to the opening words of their Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In doing so, we reaffirm our shared commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We reaffirm our dedication to the principle that these rights are available to all and are not dependent on wealth or privilege, education or class.

We tend to focus on the Declaration’s opening lines. We neglect the concluding line. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Our founders hoped to instill a keen sense that we are bound to each other.

Our lives and our fortunes are dependent on one another, and that this independent nation is sustained by our ability to see everyone as an American and not draw lines between ourselves. We may very well be independent of Britian and other nations, but we cannot thrive if we are independent of other Americans.

No matter how different we appear from each other, we are one.

Party affiliation and ideological commitment are not mentioned in this founding document. It is all “we” and not “I.” Their great complaint against King George was focused on self-interest. He believed the colonies were to serve him. The founders, however, wished to serve themselves. They believed that every person’s pursuit of happiness was as legitimate as a king’s. And they understood that we are bound together in this pursuit.

This is exactly why Korah is so forcefully punished for his rebellion against Moses. The opening words give away his selfish intentions. “Vayikach Korach—And Korah took himself.” (Numbers 16) The rabbis expand our understanding and fill in what is implied by this week’s portion. The medieval commentator, Rashi, explains, “Korah took himself to one side with the view of separating himself out of the community.”

On this July 4th I am hoping and praying really, really hard, that we can find our way back to this sense of commonality and civility and away from self-interest and political affiliation. I am holding on to the ideal that we are all Americans, regardless of religion or race, birthplace or language.

If we are to take our Torah’s message to heart and once again pledge ourselves to our founders’ principles, then we should see ourselves first and foremost as united. We may very well be varied and different, but we can only succeed if we are one.

If divine providence is to protect us, then we must stand united.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is bound not to ideology but unity.