Once Upon a Time in Cave Creek

In honor of Yoseph Seinfeld who completed his aleph-bet and received his very first sefer (Hebrew book).


Did you hear what happened in Cave Creek, Arizona last week?

In the election for Town Council, one race was a tie vote, 660-660.

In the old days, they might have broken the tie with a shootout, also known as a draw.

In the new days, the local law requires a different kind of draw: break the tie by chance.

Here's how reporter Rene Gutel told it:

Cave Creek Magistrate George Preston, dressed in his black robes, shuffled the deck of cards Monday night that would finally decide the race. About 60 people crowded council chambers, including a few lawyers who had hashed out two pages of rules for the drawing.

The candidate drawing the highest card would be declared the winner.

"Here's to the good citizens, the town of Cave Creek and a Western tradition," said Thomas McGuire, the incumbent in the race. McGuire drew the six of hearts.

Then challenger Adam Trenk stepped forward for his turn. He pulled the king of hearts, and McGuire politely conceded. Trenk pocketed the card as a keepsake.

"It's a little disheartening that seven months of hard work would be decided by a game of chance," Trenk said. "But I understand that that's the law of the state."

3 questions for your table: What makes a law fair? If it's the law (and let’s assume that constitutionality), does that mean it's right? And are you morally obligated to follow a law that seems unfair or that you don’t understand?

Shabbat Shalom

PS –