My Commencement Speech

We are in the season of graduations. There is much to celebrate (in most cases) as we see the next generation educated, ready to graduate to the next phase of life. There is also a practice to have a commencement speech. A commencement speech is a formal address delivered to graduating students at a graduation ceremony. This past week at the graduation ceremony at Yeshiva University, Mike Huckabee, the American Ambassador to Israel, delivered these remarks. This is a quote from his speech. “The Jews around the world, representing only 0.2% of the world‘s population, have created an outsized impact on the world, and unfortunately, there are people who hate you for that, but I determined that they really more than they hate you, they hate the G-d who chose you 3800 years ago as his people and gave you a place called Israel and gave you a purpose which was to present the law and the light to all the world. Your being faithful to that task is not simply something that you should do. It is something that you must do. There's no one else to whom the Creator of the universe has given such a mission.” These compelling remarks hopefully give the next generation of Jewish leaders some context for reframing the challenges of the present and future. I have been thinking about what my commencement speech would be to the graduates. For clarity's sake, I have never been invited to deliver remarks at a graduation ceremony, except at Torah Academy. I am working on a commencement speech for my archives in case I am ever asked. This would be my message. ​ Dear Graduates, as you enter a new phase in life, you have been primed and are ready to conquer the world. Indeed, in the story of Creation recorded in Bereishis/Genesis Chapter 1, G-d tells Adam to be ‘fruitful and multiply and conquer the world.’ However, in Chapter 2, G-d places Adam in the Garden of Eden to watch and guard this sacred garden. So what is the focus of Man supposed to be? Should he go out and conquer the world, or should he stay in the garden and focus on spiritual development? Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, in his book The Lonely Man of Faith, answers the question of what Torah is teaching us, and one can think of this as Adam 1 and Adam 2. He is not describing two different people, but two dimensions of every human being. Created in the image of God. Adam 1 is commanded to "fill the earth and subdue it.” Adam 1 seeks achievement, mastery, creativity, and dignity. Adam 1 seeks achievement, mastery, creativity, and dignity and builds civilization, science, technology, business, medicine, and culture. Adam 1 asks: "How does the world work?" and measures success through accomplishment and influence. On the other hand, Adam 2 is placed in the Garden "to work it and guard it." Adam 2 seeks meaning, redemption, and relationship. Adam 2 experiences loneliness and existential questions. Adam 2 asks: "Why am I here?" and "What does God want from me?” Adam 2 Lives through covenant, humility, prayer, and faith. Adam II is less concerned with conquering nature than with standing before God. He seeks holiness rather than power. Modern society overwhelmingly speaks the language of Adam I—efficiency, success, technology, productivity, and measurable results. The religious person, however, also hears the voice of Adam II. Others have described it this way : Adam I is the self that builds your résumé. Spend enough time building the person who appears on your résumé, but don't neglect the person people will describe in your eulogy. ​ Have a Peaceful Shabbos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch