Health Care on the Island
Lucas, a local tour guide with the kind of grin that suggested he knew a secret about the universe—or at least about where to find the best mangoes—was chatting with a tourist named Ben.
"Ben," Lucas began, his voice a low rumble against the backdrop of gentle surf, "I gotta tell you something about these doctors." He paused, gazing at the sea. “I’m starting to think they’re the reason people get sick in the first place.”
Ben blinked, looking at him like he’d just said the moon was made of cheese. "Wait, what? Did you just say doctors make people sick?"
Lucas shrugged. "Well, think about it. Here on the island, we don’t have many doctors—only in the bigger towns. And you know what? People here hardly ever get sick. It’s like—magic!"
Ben raised an eyebrow. "You’re telling me that fewer doctors means fewer sick people?"
"Exactly!" Lucas nodded enthusiastically. "It’s like we’ve cracked the code. Back in your country, every town has a doctor, and someone’s always taking sick days. Here, if someone sneezes, we just say, ‘You’ll be fine!’ and get back to whatever we were doing. No drama. No clinics. No endless prescriptions."
Ben chuckled and shook his head. “Lucas,” he said, “I think you might be missing a piece of the puzzle. Here, if someone gets sick, they’re really sick. Like, about to meet their Maker sick. By then, what’s a doctor gonna do, right?” He swatted at a mosquito the size of a small drone. "Back home, doctors catch things early. If someone’s got a headache or a sniffle, they go to the doctor right away, get treated, and—boom—they’re back on their feet."
Lucas’s grin widened. "Ah, I see. So, more doctors means more people thinking they’re sick, even when they’re not?"
"Well, sort of," Ben said, laughing. "It’s all about prevention. You don’t wait for something to become serious—you stop it before it gets there. A little rest, some meds, and you’re good to go. The idea is to keep people healthy enough so they don’t get seriously sick. That’s how our whole medical system works—keep everyone healthy by catching things early."
Many Courts and Many Laws
"These are the laws that you shall set before them..." (Exod. 21:1).
The Jewish people are called upon to live at a high moral standard, to be a "light unto the nations." One might ask: If they are so ethical, why do they need so many laws? Why the requirement for judges and courts in every town, village, and region?
In other societies, the primary concern is the prevention of major offenses—murder, theft, and the like. These offenses, though serious, occur infrequently. Hence, there is no need for a widespread system of courts in every community. A few judges to address the most significant crimes, and that suffices.
For the Jewish people, however, the situation is different. The Torah doesn’t just demand avoiding major crimes like robbery or violence; it sets a higher standard. Avoid embarrassing others. Don’t gossip. Return lost property. Not all of these obligations are intuitive—they require guidance, day in and day out.
This is why the Jewish people need so many courts and judges: it’s not only for the major offenses but for the small, everyday decisions that shape a life of integrity. The Torah’s ethical teachings permeate every aspect of life. Each town needs its own court, ensuring that its members uphold the standards set by Torah law.
(Adapted from Mishlei Yaakov pp. 159-160)
