We are all too aware of the impact exorbitant gas prices have had on us as individuals and on the general economy. The surge in transportation expenses has fueled a rise in food prices and other necessities and driven our economy to the brink of recession (if not beyond).
These developments have forced certain industries to completely restructure how they do business. Airlines, for example, have cut back flights, added fuel and baggage fees, and have further reduced already scaled-back service. Automakers have reduced production, drastically cutting back on the manufacture of SUVs, trucks, and other gas-guzzlers in response to plummeting sales.
So significant is the problem that it has become a central issue on Capitol Hill, with Democrats and Republicans blaming each other for the crisis while offering their own approaches to solving it. These include everything from pressuring OPEC to increase oil production to minimizing the impact of oil investors and speculators. The Department of Energy even maintains a separate website, www.fueleconomy.gov, to monitor gas prices and advise Americans on ways they can minimize the effects of high gas prices.
Strange as it may sound, there have been some positive developments to emerge from the energy conundrum, including the general increase in consumer discipline it’s engendered.
Data recently released by the Department of Transportation shows that for six consecutive months Americans drove less than they had in the month prior. In total, Americans have driven nearly 20 billion fewer miles overall this year than at the same time in 2007, and nearly 30 billion fewer miles since last November.
Americans have been forced to become more disciplined in their driving habits and think more carefully before getting into their cars. They have begun to question the importance of each trip. Many are staying away from long drives, even when on vacation, prompting the introduction of the “stay-cation” into the American consciousness. Not only does this reduced driving have a positive effect on the environment, it restores a sense of peace and focus.
Of course, behavioral and economic discipline has long been the hallmark of the Jewish people. Our entire existence is governed by the mandates of halacha, from morning until night, from birth until death. There is not one area of life not directed by Hashem and His Torah, no part of our day free from the responsibilities of a Torah lifestyle.
This is particularly true in the area of finances. Jewish farmers are instructed to give sizable portions of their produce to others and may not partake of their own bounty until they have done so. Jews are required to tithe their income for the benefit of the needy. Even when we are permitted to enjoy the fruits of our labor, we must first take a moment to acknowledge the Source of all blessing before partaking from His bounty – thus the requirement to recite blessings before we eat.
Another general change brought about by the high price of oil is the increased value Americans are placing on substance over style. Travel costs – even at the expense of convenience and comfort – have become the paramount consideration in choosing a means of transportation.
Public transportation is more popular than ever, with many cities forced to bring old buses or trains back into service simply to keep up with the demand. Americans are purchasing economical scooters and three cylinder cars at a record pace. Biking as a means of transportation has also witnessed a major spike.
In Jewish terms, this attitudinal shift can be seen as consistent with our need to prioritize in life and often forgo the physical pleasures of the present for the sake of eternal fulfillment.
Our sages have routinely admonished us to not become distracted by the fleeting attractions of this world and thus lose sight of that which is of real importance – our place in eternity. In the famous words of R’ Yaakov, “This world is like a vestibule before the world to come. Prepare yourself in the vestibule so that you may be able to enter the banquet hall” (Avos 4:21).
I am certainly not suggesting it is sinful to enjoy the comfort of one’s automobile or other forms of transit. Still, it is important to be able to distinguish between necessity and luxury. Keeping that in mind will not only help us make more prudent financial decisions, it will also direct our energies and focus toward our true purpose in this world – namely, to reach the next world in good standing while avoiding the many potential pitfalls that confront us along the way.