Our celebrity-besotted culture seems to have metastasized beyond all imagination. Endorsements of the notable—often famous for little more than the vagaries of being famous—have transcended old-style ads to encompass “influencers”—often teens whose well-coifed online imprimatur can command thousands of likes-into-dollars for a brief mention on Instagram. Though the scope of this outsized influence has grown, concerns for undeserved notoriety are as timeless as the Torah.
In this week’s portion, R’eih, we encounter the challenge of the false navi/prophet. The axiom that “a broken clock is right twice a day” comes to mind in warning against a putative prophet whose signs and portents are occasionally borne out. And yet a sharp distinction is set with dire repercussions: If the prophet counsels anything against the Torah, he or she is to be put to death. Whether such capital consequences actually occurred matters less than the attested danger of those who leverage unearned reputation into undue authority. This warning resounds in our hearts and minds today more than ever.
