In response to the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare Group, and the many attempts to justify and even celebrate the actions of the alleged murderer, Luigi Mangione, Senator Elizabeth Warren said:
The visceral response from people across the country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the healthcare system…Violence is never the answer. BUT people can only be pushed so far.
Since Thompson’s murder last week, we’ve seen from the reaction of for too many people, that violence is the answer. Warren attempted to clarify her words in a later statement, saying: “violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder.”
I am deeply troubled by the those who justify Thompson’s murder and encourage the admiration and glorification of Mangione. There are now threats that have been issued against other healthcare leaders and members of law enforcement. Even the McDonald’s where the alleged killer was arrested is under attack.
Judaism makes it explicitly clear: there is NO justification for the murder of Brian Thompson.
In the Torah, we are taught: “Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Rabbi Simcha Bunin of Peshischa (1766-1827, Poland) explains that the reason “righteousness” is repeated in this famous verse is because one “righteousness” is an adjective and the other is a noun. Rabbi Bunin said the verse should be read as follows: “pursue a righteous righteousness.” It is not enough to pursue righteousness. Our pursuit must be done morally. There is no justice if it is not pursued justly.
Judaism does not celebrate Robin Hood. While Judaism demands that we go above and beyond to take care of those in need, stealing from the rich to benefit the poor flies in the face of so many of our values. There is a Jewish teaching in the Talmud that captures this: a mitzvah (a moral action) that results through an averah (a sin) is no mitzvah. To explain this teaching, the rabbis teach that if one steals a lulav (the palm branch we shake on Sukkot) in order to fulfill the mitzvah of waving it on the holiday, not only does one not fulfill this mitzvah, one actually curses G-d by using utilizing something in a religious act that was obtained immorally.
One of the 10 Commandments makes it explicitly clear: you shall not steal. (Exodus 20:13) Despite this being a fundamental moral that transcends Judaism, society seems to be excellent at rationalizing immoral behavior. This is nothing new. Robin Hood has been praised for stealing from the rich to help the poor. But our tradition makes it clear: stealing is wrong. Period.
Stealing is bad, but according to Judaism, it is not one of the worst sins we can commit. At least if one steals and recognizes his sin, he can return the stolen object and seek forgiveness from the rightful owner. When one violates another one of the 10 Commandments – you shall not murder (Exodus 20:13) – there is no ability to repent. The only person who can forgive you is dead. Additionally, Judaism insists that when you take a life, you destroy an entire universe. This is why the Talmud teaches us that Judaism has “cardinal sins,” one of them being murder. When it comes to murder, the Talmud requires us to “yeihareig v’al ya’avor,” give up our life rather than murder.
According to the Judaism that I embrace, there is absolutely NO justification for the murder of Brian Thompson. Yes, there are extremely troubling problems with the healthcare industry in the United States. But this does not justify executing the CEO of United HealthCare. Nor should one think that this execution will repair our healthcare industry. If anything, the glorification of Thompson’s executioner only encourages vigilante justice that has the potential to undermine all efforts to pursue righteous righteousness, to pursue justice and fairness in a moral fashion.
There are a multitude of grievances out there. If it is acceptable to murder a healthcare executive over a grievance, no matter how “just” the reason is, which group of leaders is next? Banking executives? Credit card CEOs? Mortgage officers? Sadly, we already know politicians seem to be fair game!? This is madness, and it flies in the face pursuing righteous righteousness.
We all know too well that many have problems with those of us who proudly identify as Zionists. For those who buy into the false narratives about us, in a society that embraces vigilante justice, are we next? How about those who are opposed to abortion? Is it acceptable if their pursuit of what they consider to be “righteousness” includes the murder of physicians who help women terminate their pregnancies? What about doctors who help people in the process of gender transition? Are they fair game!? I sure as heck hope not.
My Judaism demands that I pursue righteousness, that I stand up to immorality, inequality, and those who threaten the health, well-being, and security of my community. But as I pursue this righteousness, my Judaism demands that I don’t turn my back on the values that form the bedrock of my faith. The dominant value in this bedrock is the obligation to do everything possible to preserve life. “You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which human beings shall live.” (Leviticus 18:5) We Jews are obligated to fight for equity in the healthcare world. But, when we celebrate, attempt to justify, and/or fail to flatly condemn the murder of a leader of a health insurance company, we are no longer preserving life. We are playing G-d, using what we consider to be “justice” to validate murder and paving the way for the death of others who are deemed guilty by this mob or that mob. I pray that we as a society are better than this and I ask us all to live up to our responsibility to pursue righteous righteousness.
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