In a splashy, much-discussed paper published in 2008 in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, John Coates and Joe Herbert of
Cambridge University concluded, stress spurs cortisol secretions. If you're stressed
like a normal mammal, running from a predator, cortisol helps to save your
life. But chronic psychological stress—a human specialty—elevates long-term
cortisol levels, which increases the risks of stress-related diseases.
When did cortisol levels rise in stock traders? You might
think: when they lost money. But that wasn't it. Instead, market volatility,
raised cortisol. This makes lots of sense, given that the two key building
blocks of psychological stress are lack of control and unpredictable
situations.
In addition to its effects throughout the body, cortisol
also influences cognition, emotions and behavior. This is what Dr. Coates and
his colleagues address in their new study, also published in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Science.
In the Torah, which precedes this study by thousands of
years, in the code of Jewish Law, it tells us not to nominate an exceedingly
old person, especially if he has no children, to the position of a judge. The
reason is because he lacks compassion and sensitivity, two necessary
ingredients in being a judge.
But shouldn’t a legal case be deliberated strictly on the
basis of objective rational legal concerns. If the judge is a scholar and has
the knowledge and is honest shouldn’t that be sufficient? Why are we including
in the required conditions to be a legal judge, one’s emotional traits and
character leanings?
The Bible says – Moses became angry, and as a result, he
erred.
The picture is pretty clear. According to the Bible, it is
impossible to completely separate ones emotions from ones intellect. The
emotions will influence ones intellect.
It is also true, that with ones intellect it is possible to not only
harness and direct ones emotions, but actually create a new desire and
emotional interest. But that is expected
from the head which rules the heart “by nature.”
The big deal here, is that a person’s emotional inclination
and state of being, works backwards too, on the intellect. It is impossible to
separate the two.
The Talmud discusses the two different schools of Hillel and
Shammai. Hillel was generally leaning to more lenient rulings while the house
of Shammai was generally strict in their rulings. In mysticism it explains the
underlying reason. The soul of Hillel was from a more right leaning spiritual
source which is generally benevolent in nature.
Shammai on the other hand was from a more left leaning source which is
associated with strictness and judgments.
The law, generally follows the rule of Hillel because – the
power of leniency, mercy and compassion, is greater, and that is what G-d in
his Torah demands of us. Although we are
first and foremost a people of laws, those laws must be administered,
influenced and spiced, with mercy and compassion.
Our sages tell us, our present calamities came about because
of senseless hatred. People were not nice to each other for no special reason.
Just because. The way to undo this
negative, is by turning to the positive side, being nice to one another and
developing a feeling of kindness for people, for no special reason, just
because.
Just because every human being is created in the form and
image of G-d. Just because every human being has a special place and a unique
purpose that perfects the world, for all of humanity.
If we nurture the feeling of kindness for each other for no
special reason, just because, our thoughts and decisions will reflect those
feelings. This will ultimately eliminate the negativity in the world and bring
the final redemption, of peace and harmony for all of humanity.
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