RABBI WEIN ON WEIGHING VALUES

Almost all of us agree that values, especially those that represent the ideas of democracy and freedom and also our own national self-interest and personal preservation, are vital and necessary for ourselves and the public good. When viewed in isolation, it is easy to be an ardent supporter of any one individual value that fits this criterion of benefit and probity. The problem always arises when apparently contradictory values conflict with each other. Then the question arises as to which value has priority and should be followed at the expense of the other.