Why Civilisations Fail
Family Edition

The Summary

This summary is adapted from this week’s main Covenant & Conversation essay by Rabbi Sacks.

What is the real challenge of maintaining a free society? Is it surviving when times are hard? Surprisingly, no. The real challenge to a society is not poverty but affluence, not insecurity but security, not slavery but freedom. Moshe explains that once all the physical needs of Bnei Yisrael are met (when they have land and rich harvests and homes) then their spiritual trial will commence. How will they maintain their faith in the good times?

Many powerful civilisations have failed throughout the centuries, like ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, and many others. Moshe’s advice was key to not following this pattern. And he said this before most of history had even begun! His message, which forms a central argument of the book of Devarim, is this: If you assume that you won the land yourselves, and that you don’t have to work for freedom you will grow complacent and self-satisfied.That is the beginning of the end of any civilisation.

If left unchecked, inequalities grow. The rich become self-indulgent, and the poor get excluded. There will be social divisions, resentments, and injustices. Society will no longer cohere. People will not feel bound to one another by a bond of collective responsibility. Individualism will prevail. Trust will decline. Social capital will wane.

This has happened, sooner or later, to all civilisations, however great. It would be disastrous for Bnei Yisrael – a small people surrounded by large empires. As Moshe makes clear in the long account of the curses that would overcome the people if they lost their spiritual bearings, Israel would find itself defeated and devastated. And this is why the book of Devarim aims to create a society capable of defeating the normal laws of civilisation’s growth and decline. This is an astonishing idea.

How is it to be done? By each person bearing and sharing responsibility for society as a whole, by each knowing the history of his or her people, by each individual studying and understanding the laws that govern all, and by teaching their children so that they, too, become literate and articulate in their identity.

Rule 1: Never forget where you came from. If you remember your roots, and sustain freedom for all by establishing courts, and setting laws and justice as a priority, you have made a big step towards securing your future. By caring for the poor. By ensuring that everyone has the basic requirements of dignity. By including the lonely in the people’s celebrations. By remembering the brit daily, weekly, and annually in ritual and renewing it every seven years. By ensuring there are always prophets to remind the people of their destiny and expose the corruption of power.

Rule 2: Never drift from your principles and ideals. How? By recognising that God is - and always will be - a power greater than ourselves. This is Moshe’s most insistent point. Societies start growing old when they lose faith in the transcendent. They then lose faith in the laws, and they end by losing faith in themselves.

Rule 3: A society is as strong as its faith. Only faith in God can lead us to honour the needs of others and ourselves. Only faith in God can motivate us to act for the benefit of a future we will not live to see. Only faith in God can stop us from wrongdoing when we believe that no other human will ever find out. Only faith in God can give us the humility that defeats the arrogance of success that leads to military and national defeat.

Towards the end of his book Civilisation, Niall Ferguson looks at how Europe lagged behind China until the 17th century, but then overtook it, rising to prominence and dominance. At first, he said, we thought it was because Europe had better weapons than China. Then we thought it was because of a better political system. Then we concluded that it was because of a better economic system. But in the end we realised that their strength came from their religion. Only faith can save a society from decline and fall. That was one of Moshe’s greatest insights, which has never ceased to be true.

Around the Shabbat Table

1. Why do you think Moshe believed that affluence and security are greater challenges than poverty and insecurity?
2. How can remembering where we come from help us maintain a free and just society?  
3. What role do you think faith plays in keeping a society strong and united?

Parsha in Passing

Moshe encourages Bnei Yisrael, assuring them that God will defeat the Canaanite armies for them. He emphasises that their entry into Israel is due to the merit of their forefathers, not their virtues, and reminds them of their past transgressions to highlight this point.

Moshe recounts their 40-year journey and the miracles they experienced, commanding them to destroy all Canaanite idols. He highlights the blessings of the land and the importance of thanking God through prayer and Birkat Hamazon. Moshe warns against forgetting God amid newfound prosperity, which could lead to their downfall. He recounts the sin of the Golden Calf and God’s command to create new luchot and appoint the Leviim.

This week’s parsha also includes the second part of the Shema, emphasising the need to follow God’s commandments, which will bring us continued blessings and help us to avoid exile.

Parsha People

Birkat Hamazon: After the meal, give thanks and feel that blessings - big and small - are abundantly real.

Bnei Yisrael: Spiritually connected, God’s will protected, and last but not least? Always respected.

Hashem: Under God’s sight, Israel shines bright, day and night reflecting His light.

The Avot: Our forefathers (Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov) reminds us, to follow God’s will and the covenant that binds us.

Parsha Practical

This week Moshe reminds us of something important: our successes and blessings come not purely from our efforts, but from God. A great way to put this teaching into practice is the practical mitzva of the week - Birkat Hamazon - also known as ‘Grace After Meals’ or ‘benching’.

This mitzva originates in parshat Eikev, so it’s a fitting time to take a look at this practice. Consider your benching as sending a little “thank you” note to God for providing our food. It’s a moment to take a breath and remember that even eating is a gift from Hashem.

• How else can you send a “thank you note” to God?

Parsha Playoff

Here’s an opportunity to create a “Gratitude Circle”. Family members and/or friends and guests sit in a circle and take turns expressing something they are grateful for. Each participant must mention something different. One way to add a bit of a challenge to this game is to see if - at the end - one person can recite what every other participant said that they are grateful for!

Parsha Philosophy

What’s the real challenge of maintaining a free and prosperous society? Moshe has the answer, and this is exactly what Rabbi Sacks explores in this week’s parsha essay.

Moshe warns that the true test of a society begins not when you might expect - in times of struggle or poverty - but in times of affluence and security.

When all our physical needs are met, there is a risk of a society becoming complacent, forgetting their values (hard work, humility, tzedakah) and also letting go of their faith in God, instead feeling self-satisfied about their success and choosing an easier path forward. This complacency can lead to moral decay, social division, and the eventual decline of civilisation.

Moshe’s message reminds us of the importance of remembering one’s history, maintaining social solidarity, upholding justice, and, most importantly, sustaining faith in God. Faith in a higher power fosters collective responsibility, moral integrity, and long-term thinking, which are essential for the health and longevity of any society. According to Moshe, this is how a society can avoid the common pitfalls of success and ensure enduring freedom and prosperity.

• Why do you think affluence and wealth can be moral pitfalls for a society? Is there a way to strike a balance between “having it all” and being a prosperous society?

Parsha Parable

Richie's Riches

Once upon a time, a boy named Richie grew up in a little village. His family had very little money, but they were never lacking in love. Richie’s parents had a favourite saying: “Be kind to others, no matter what.”

When Richie grew up, he set off to the big city and began his first job - as a shop-assistant in the centre of town. He worked extremely hard and saved every coin he could. One day, he told himself, he would have enough money to buy anything he wanted. Time went by, and Richie’s hard work started to pay off. He was promoted, and eventually opened his shop, where he sold colourful fabrics and aromatic spices. His shop did so well that Richie became rich! He had a big house and many nice things. Even so, he never forgot his humble beginnings.

One day Richie was visiting his family when he noticed that many people in the village were struggling. He remembered how it had felt to be poor and hungry, and he thought, “How can I help?”

So, he did something unique. Richie hired some of the people to help him construct a large building in the village. Once it was finished, it had a kitchen where anyone could eat for free, a school for children, and extra rooms where adults could learn new skills, to get better jobs. He also made sure everyone had warm clothes and shoes.

Richie returned to the village every month. He talked to the people, listened to their stories, and helped them solve problems wherever he could. He was always friendly and open to new ideas, and he never acted like he was better than anyone else. The villagers loved Richie, and his story spread, and inspired many other acts of kindness. The people saw that Richie’s happiness was not because of his riches, but because he was using his wealth and his skills to make the world a better place. His story taught others that no matter how successful you become, the greatest gift is the ability to help others and be kind.

Parsha Puzzle

Question: If you have wine and cake in front of you, which bracha do you make first?

Answer: It depends! Usually the bracha on mezonot should be made on the cake first. But if you are at Kiddush, then obviously the wine comes first (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Rema 211:4).

Parsha Ponderings

What Would You Do?

Imagine living in a prosperous society where everyone has everything they need, but they take their wealth and comfort for granted. How could you help your community remember the importance of gratitude, humility, and collective responsibility?

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