THE THREE MONKEYS – For Rosh Hashanah 2025 – Loren Judaken
(See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil)
As a child, I imagined the three monkeys
holding court on my father’s desk
were emblematic of values
to which I should aspire.
A maxim to avoid seeing, speaking, listening to
or participating in evil.
This moment in history demands a reinterpretation—
Now they symbolize the imperative
to peel back my fingers and remove the hands
that shield my eyes from looking,
that block my ears from hearing,
that cover my mouth from speaking out.
They are a mandate to see everything —
the beauty and wonder of G-d’s creation,
and the ugliness and shadows
of the injustice in the world,
and to look for both
the beauty and ugliness inside myself.
To hear not only bird songs
and children’s laughter,
but listen to others,
their stories and their pain,
to hear the echo of G-d’s voice in my thoughts,
and heed the yearnings of my own heart.
To speak out against all that is evil,
the distortions, destruction and death,
to speak of loving kindness, compassion,
and gratitude for my myriad blessings,
especially the blessings of
community and Torah.
But a fourth monkey, one of action needs birthing
molded to manifest these insights.
No longer can we heed Milton’s refrain,
“They also serve who only stand and wait”
Our Jewish sages like Rabbi Tarfon
implore us to act upon their ancient wisdom:
“The work is not yours to complete,
But neither are you at liberty to neglect it”
SHALOM
Loren
