The Torah’s “Ethics of the Fathers“ (1.6) teaches one to “keep a distance from an evil neighbor; do not become attached to the wicked.” Appears considerably harsh, however nonetheless. Lawrence Summers, nonetheless, apparently didn’t get the memo.
Summers, in fact, is the previous president of Harvard College, U.S. secretary of the Treasury and director of the Nationwide Financial Council, amongst different terribly vital positions. It’s onerous to seek out figures in society who’ve occupied extra prestigious roles. However clearly, even people like Summers are “capable” (missing a greater phrase) of constant to befriend lowlifes who interact in despicable conduct. None extra so than the likes of Jeffrey Epstein.
Oddly, although, Summers individually additionally sought romantic recommendation from Epstein a few girl “on the side” with whom he was romantically concerned, however who appeared to be two-timing him. Parenthetically, you’re the previous president of Harvard, and Epstein is who you search romantic recommendation from?
This essay, although, will not be about whether or not it was unethical or unsuitable for Summers to take care of contact with Epstein after he knew what he certainly knew. Nor whether or not it could have been unethical or unsuitable to desert him when Epstein’s odious conduct grew to become uncovered, or Summers realized of it privately. The uniquely offensive nature of Epstein — way more disturbing notably given its sheer breadth, as reported — makes what Summers knew of Epstein insupportable. And seemingly inconceivable for a person of Summers’s standing to “hang in there” with a relationship, no matter it might need been. This even placing apart that Summers was unambiguously looking for “valuables” from Epstein — financing for his spouse’s program, and “relationship advice” to fulfill his personal id.
The problem raised by what has befallen Summer time is a broader one and doesn’t essentially contain a good friend or acquaintance afraid of being uncovered for sustaining a good friend like Epstein. Put merely, once we one way or the other be taught {that a} good friend has performed one thing horrendous — whether or not they’re prosecuted for it or not — will we drop them like a sizzling potato, or drop them in any respect? So long as they haven’t performed one thing horrible to a person who significantly issues to us, ought to we stay their good friend, even when persevering with that friendship would possibly one way or the other diminish us within the view of others? That means, is how we’re perceived, if it will get out, extra vital to us than “being there” for somebody down and out who wants us? Certainly, are we extra diminished by sticking with individuals who have violated a societal norm however want us? Or once we as an alternative merely depart them to their very own units as a result of doing so helps maintain their taint away from us?
Now, once more, Summers was out for one thing from Epstein. What, although, if “the friend” isn’t on the lookout for something? All that exists is the good friend’s willingness to be “supportive” at a troublesome time after his or her wrongdoing — say, drug abuse, adultery, embezzlement, inventory fraud, parental abuse — has been uncovered, both publicly or in the area people’s gossip mill? Can we depart that particular person off to the aspect of the street? Or will we attempt to assist them recognizing that every of us has our personal vulnerabilities?
And the dropping of Summers as has now occurred will not be a very good case for examine given his disturbingly continued relationship with the uniquely horrible being that Epstein was. The “Ethics of the Fathers” employs extraordinarily judgmental phrases like “wicked” and “evil” as guideposts relating to whom one ought to avoid. That mentioned, we ourselves have to keep away from exercising extreme judgmentalism when these with whom we’ve had significant relationships are reflexively deserted by others near them for having continued their relationships which might be aberrant, even for them
Joel Cohen, a former state and federal prosecutor, practices white collar felony protection legislation as Senior Counsel at Petrillo Klein & Boxer. He’s the creator of “Broken Scales: Reflections on Injustice” (ABA Publishing, 2017) and is an adjunct professor at each Fordham and Cardozo legislation faculties.
