We Are on the Balcony

From time to time, there are photos and videos on various print and TV media of England’s royal family on a balcony of Buckingham Palace, all waving to a crowd of thousands of men, women and children below. They stand solemnly and sometimes with wide smiles as they acknowledge the masses of the “regular” people looking up.

As the camera pans to individuals in the crowd enthusiastically welcoming the royals above them, I can’t help feeling that many wish that they were on the balcony, looking down, that they would have been born royal – that they would have been in that natal lottery where out of the millions in Great Britain, they would have beaten the extreme odds and would have been in that one in 10 million percent ( a guesstimate) who are born as members of the extended royal family, or at the very least noble enough to associate with them and be invited to their gatherings.

The ordinary citizens likely fantasize of the glamorous life the royals get to enjoy –- the servants at their fingertips, such as chefs, personal wardrobe specialists, nannies and night nurses; the fancy balls and state dinners; the international celebrities they get to meet; the front seats at sports events; the best box seats at the theater; the travel to exotic places, etc.

But what they don’t see is the lifelong responsibility for each royal to be exemplary role models; to behave with decorum and dignity and with impeccable manners wherever they are. Children and teenagers cannot cut loose like the non-royal majority cheering below, they cannot act in the typical manner of the regular population – they cannot swear, or dress immodestly, or party in a way deemed unseemly for royal youth. They have an ethical and behavioral standard to maintain at all times because the public eye is always on them and their actions constantly are under scrutiny. The royals on the balcony figuratively and literally must be above the rest. And of course, even more so the adults, even if they are more in the background due to being further down the line of succession. They have duties and obligations that come with being a royal.

I imagine that the average “bloke” is envious of this family that is set apart from them, even as they are cheering. They wish they were in their shoes with the accompanying pomp and ceremony and rituals. But they don’t take into account and are oblivious of the higher standards and restrictions and values that each prince or princess must practice at all times. Being in a glass fish bowl where you must "swim" in an inflexible, non-negotiable manner is not easy.

Any misstep is publicized globally, and with social media, it's on display almost immediately and intensely. That is the price of being royal – of being in the extremely tiny minority. Of having all eyes on you on the balcony.

The Jewish people are individually and collectively on a " balcony " where all eyes are upon us. We are the unique, miniscule minority about 15 million out of 9 billion on display 24/7, no matter where we are. In our own country of Israel and the Diaspora, we are scrutinized non-stop by those millions, actually the if not the billions on this planet. We have been labeled the "chosen." We are judged differently in our interactions with the rest of the world.

Every human was created in G-d's image. They have the potential to carry themselves as the sons and daughters of a king. Most chose not to. It’s too hard and they can opt out and be free "commoners" and indulge in whatever questionable moral and ethical behavior and actions they choose. But we sons and daughters of Yaakov – we are on the balcony. We are held to a different standard.

And so, we must always be on our best ethical and moral behavior, and be above reproach. Jews must be polite, humble, kind, and considerate when dealing with people outside "the family." Our business dealings must be transparent, honest and beyond reproach. We must be generous with our time and resources to those needing help both Jew and gentile.

Sadly, there is a double standard no matter what we do, as individuals and as a nation. What's ok for other people and nations, is not ok if Jews do the same. It’s not a recent phenomenon; it started from our existence thousands of years ago. Esav hates Yaakov. There are those in the "crowd" below that are hypercritical and hypocritical in terms of our actions. Self-defense is viewed as a war crime. Jews are blamed for every problem in the world, from bad weather, climate change, global diseases and financial difficulties. I have always maintained that if every Jew slit their throat to please our enemies who wish to see us erased, they would condemn us for not bleeding out fast enough! That is the price of being " on the balcony."

Envy, jealousy, resentment at perceived success and privilege and "chosenness." But we must continue being exemplary, impeccable role models, and despite the toxic millions who try to darken our existence, to continue our divine mission of being " a light unto the nations." Even as they mightily and relentlessly and use every resource and means at their disposal – even to their own detriment, to try to shut down our light.