Seemingly, religion promotes world perfection. Historically, tyrants “perfected” the world.

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Seemingly, religion promotes world perfection. Historically, tyrants “perfected” the world.

by Rabbi Eyal Ravnoy

G-d doesn’t like perfect people. In fact, nowhere in the Torah does G-d take pride in someone who is perfect. One can excel in some attribute or other, but that is it. Regarding perfection, the Torah itself claims (Ecclesiastes 7:20): “For there is no man so righteous on earth who does only good and never sins.”

In short, the best friend of “good” is “better,” and its worst enemy is “best.” Communism wasn’t happy with “good” or “better,” but wanted “best”—and it gave us “worst.”

As a reality check to all social perfectionists, G-d says (Deuteronomy 15:11): “For destitute people will not cease to exist within the Land; therefore I command you, saying: ‘You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor, and to your destitute in your Land.’ ”

But will there ever be a perfect world?

“However, there will be no destitute among you; rather, Hashem will surely bless you in the Land that Hashem, your G-d, will give you (Deuteronomy 15:4).” In other words, while you should strive to make things better and easier on everybody, leave the perfection-making to the perfect G-d.

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