{"id":1465,"date":"2012-07-20T01:02:15","date_gmt":"2012-07-20T07:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=1465"},"modified":"2012-07-20T04:04:18","modified_gmt":"2012-07-20T10:04:18","slug":"holy-talmud-what-would-batman-do-book-suggest-way-that-caped-crusadeer-is-jewish-role-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/holy-talmud-what-would-batman-do-book-suggest-way-that-caped-crusadeer-is-jewish-role-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Talmud! what would Batman do? Book suggests way that Caped Crusader is Jewish role model"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The following article, published in 2006 is provided courtesy of The CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS (All rights reserved \u00a92006) <a title=\"Cleveland Jewish News\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cjn.org\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.cjn.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Reviewed by ALAN\u2008SMASON, Staff Reporter<\/p>\n<p>A funny thing happened to Rabbi Cary Friedman a little over six years ago. Friedman, a teacher and expert on Torah ethics, was publicly lecturing on how to live a more spiritual life when his words caught the attention of a high-ranking FBI official in the audience.\u00a0It turns out that the bureau\u2019s Behavioral Science Unit is keenly interested in spirituality and its potential to alleviate stress in the field for its agents and other law enforcement officers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1467\" style=\"width: 198px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1467\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1467 lazyload\" title=\"Wisdom from the Batcave\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom-188x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom.jpg 314w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 188px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 188\/300;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1467\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1467\" title=\"Wisdom from the Batcave\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom-188x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Wisdom.jpg 314w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1467\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wisdom from the Batcave cover (\u00a9Cary A. Friedman)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As a result, Friedman was offered and accepted a job opportunity at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Va. As a religious figure, he now promotes ethical behavior and helps lawmen connect to their own spirituality, but without promoting any one religious agenda over another.<\/p>\n<p>Since childhood, Friedman had been a devotee of Batman comics. Unlike other comic-book heroes (Superman or the Flash) who possessed superhuman powers, \u201cthe Batman\u201d is a normal human being who has honed his body and developed his mind to the highest attainable levels. Thus, according to Friedman, when Bruce Wayne elects to become the crimefighting Batman, it is a conscious choice on his part and not due to the effects of lesser gravity, a yellow sun or a freak accident. He thus represents the very best that mankind can emulate.<\/p>\n<p>Examining even more closely the ethics exuded by the Dark Detective, Friedman began to construct a series of ways to lead a virtuous life, linking the Batman\u2019s ethical behavior to examples found in Torah and Talmud study.\u00a0 While working as a chaplain at Duke University in 1999, Friedman finished his first draft of what became his \u201cBatman\u201d book, now published seven years later as <em>Wisdom from the Batcave<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are&#8230;the <em>fundamental ideas<\/em>, or rather, the <em>universal Truths<\/em> that define the heart-and-soul of the Batman character,\u201d the author writes. \u201cThese ideas raise the Batman from a mere two-dimensional comic-book character to become a larger-than-life hero, symbol and inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Each of the book\u2019s 18 chapters explores how the Batman\u2019s persona leads a virtuous and ethical life, with Friedman providing illustrative frames culled from the annals of Batman and Detective Comics to reinforce those concepts. Some of the chapter headings included in the volume say it all: \u201cThe Blessing of Family,\u201d \u201cThe Value of Hard Work,\u201d \u201cThe Value of Self-Esteem,\u201d \u201cThe Value of Willpower,\u201d and \u201cThe Value of Study.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the work, Friedman reveals underpinnings to the Dark Knight\u2019s character that provide a deeper appreciation of his motivation and inner strength than might be gleaned by simply leafing through the comic-book pages. For instance, there is talk of Bruce Wayne\u2019s sacrifice of a \u201cnormal\u201d life in order to fulfill his destiny. The lesson to be inculcated is \u201creal greatness comes at a cost. Something has to give,\u201d Friedman writes.<\/p>\n<p>The central episode in Bruce Wayne\u2019s life that prepares him for the challenges inherent in being the Batman is his witnessessing the murder of his parents at the hands of a petty criminal. In that one instant, he vows he will not seek revenge, as one might expect. Instead, he swears he will never again allow another child to be similarly orphaned by a criminal. Such is the stuff of legend.<\/p>\n<p>What makes the Caped Crusader such a worthwhile and inspirational hero? In answering that question, Friedman trots out real life heroes such as the firemen and policemen at the World Trade Center during 9\/11 and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, whose efforts to save Jews during the Holocaust were accomplished at great personal peril. \u201cRecognize that you are a symbol,\u201d he notes. \u201cYou can be a symbol of hope against the chaos that threatens civilization and would engulf it in a moment if you were not there.\u201c<\/p>\n<p>The value of inspiring others, utilizing one\u2019s sheer willpower, and recognizing the value of friendship and family as found in Bruce Wayne\u2019s faithful manservant Alfred Pennyworth and his ward Dick Grayson (the original Robin and later Nightwing) are other aspects to a heroic life that Friedman investigates.<\/p>\n<p>The inside margins of the book are also used for pithy quotations from the author or from a number of famous celebrities.<\/p>\n<p>In linking the Batman story to the fundamental values found in Jewish insights and philosophy, Friedman could easily have become pedantic or preachy.\u00a0 Not so.\u00a0 <em>Widsom from the Batcave<\/em> is an entertaining and illuminating study of a fictional character from whom we can take away a great deal, including humor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTraditional Jewish literature is filled with inspirational works which remind me that we are in This World not for our own comfort, but for a larger purpose: to pursue Good and battle Evil,\u201d Friedman writes in his closing.<\/p>\n<p>That the Batman, a fictional character created by a Jew (Bob Kane) some 68 years ago, can continue to inspire other Jews today, is testimony that the formula still works. Everyone \u2013\u2013 from FBI agents to sheriff\u2019s deputies to everyday people \u2013\u2013 can learn and admire much from the Batman, and <em>Wisdom from the Batcave<\/em> is a wonderful place to start.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Editor\u2019s Note<\/em><\/strong><em>: <\/em>Orders for this e-book can now be placed on Amazon.com<em>:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Widsom from the Batcave: How to Live a Super, Heroic Life.<\/em> By Cary A. Friedman. Compass Books. Linden, N. J. 2006. 96 pp. $13.95.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Holy%20Talmud%21%20what%20would%20Batman%20do%3F%20Book%20suggests%20way%20that%20Caped%20Crusader%20is%20Jewish%20role%20model\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[315,316,8790,8795,8788,317],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1465"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1475,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1465\/revisions\/1475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}