The 'am'haretz and Me

In an earlier post I commented about the presence of the ‘am’haretz  in novel Mary of Nazareth.  They were the poor and illiterate peasant people of Israel.  The phrase means “the people of the land.”

In the earliest parts of the old testament the phrase was sometimes used to indicate the Canaanite people; they were “the people of the land,” i.e. the original inhabitants of the Promised Land.  Later the phrase came to mean “landed people” – as in those who had money and property. They were princes and members of the prince’s entourage. They were priests, eunuchs, and servants of the king. Even the king himself was occasionally included in this group.

But after the Babylonian exile, the phrase underwent a radical reversal in its meaning. Instead of indicating those who owned land and property, it referred to those who were left in the land – those who had not been taken away into exile, and then eventually, as a derogatory slur, those who were dirt.

They were despised.  They were considered poor, and illiterate, and boorish.  They were uneducated and stupid, and because they could not read to study the torah, they were held in contempt for their inability to abide by the Law of Moses.

Our Rabbis taught: Let a man always sell all he has and marry the daughter of a scholar.  If he does not find the daughter of a scholar, let him marry the daughter of one of the great men of the generation. If he does not find the daughter of one of the great men of the generation, let him marry the daughter of the head of the synagogues.  If he does not find the daughter of the head of the synagogues, let him marry the daughter of a charity treasurer.  If he does not find the daughter of a charity treasurer, let him marry the daughter of an elementary school teacher, but let him not marry the daughter of an 'am'haretz, because they are detestable and their wives are vermin, and of their daughters is is said, "Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast"  [1]

The Pharisees particularly viewed the ‘am’haretz with disdain. To the Pharisees they were an untouchable caste within Jewish society. They were subhuman.  They were outcasts and “sinners” because they could not read and study the torah.  Recall Jesus’ many interactions with both the “sinners” and with the Pharisees.  Jesus provoked the ire of the Pharisees because he was willing to associate with these poor, uneducated “people of the land.” He associated with "sinners."

Now it would be easy to castigate the Pharisees for their prejudice. But I have to admit that I am something of a Pharisee myself in this regard. Not to the point where I would describe someone as a “sinner” merely because they are poor or uneducated, but I do find myself, at times, cringing away from those who might be considered the ‘am’haretz of my time and place – the redneck… the “poor white trash.”

I have laughed at photos at People of Walmart.  I have been quick to judge. I have sometimes allowed myself to believe that I am more important to God than others merely because I have some ability to read and study and understand the scriptures.  May God forgive me.

[1] Pesachim 49b - http.www.cs.utah.edu/~spiegel/kabbalah/jkm003.htm