The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, an affiliate of Harvard University, is one of the leading cancer research hospitals in the nation and publishes numerous cancer research papers and studies.
This past January, however, 32-year-old Sholto David, who has a PhD in cellular and molecular biology from Newcastle University in England, made a startling discovery.
He presented evidence of widespread data manipulation in cancer research published by Dana Farber’s leading researchers including the institute’s CEO and COO. According to an article by Kelsey Piper, Dr. David reportedly contacted the institute with concerns about 57 papers, 38 of which, were ones for which the institute had, “primary responsibility for the potential data errors.”
Dr. David’s concerns were valid. The institute requested retractions for 6 papers and initiated corrections for 31 others. This is alarming because cancer research is essential to discovering a cure. If research data is falsified, a potential cure for cancer could be delayed for years. Dr. David further notes that the institute’s lies and falsehoods within the published papers were “pathetically amateurish and excessive.”
Last year, the work of Harvard Business School’s Francesca Gino was questioned as well. It appears that she flagrantly fabricated data in at least four of her published studies. Ironically, Ms. Gino is a behavioral scientist who focuses on the benefits of ethics and morality. And then, of course, there was the plagiarism scandal involving Harvard’s President, Claudine Gay, who was forced to step down because of her plagiarism (and the controversy related to her handling of antisemitism on campus).
What could have brought these individuals to falsify and plagiarize without conscience and what does Bnai Yisrael have to protect itself against such wrongdoings?
Rabbeinu Bachya on Lies, Charity, and Spiritual Nourishment
Perhaps the answer can be found in a Rabbeinu Bachya.
Rabbeinu Bachya in his introduction to this week’s Parsha analyzes various verses in Proverbs concerning lies and man’s natural inclination. When discussing these verses, Rabbeinu Bachya makes the following observations.
“Man’s natural inclination is to choose lies and deception... it adores rest and laziness, and it despises the giving of charity. The intellect [of a man] should warn the man to refrain from this type of rest and laziness (and to steer clear of lies and deception.)... [In order to do so] it should command the individual to make every effort [to give] charity. This is the meaning of the verse (Proverbs 11:4), ‘charity shall save from death...’ He (King Solomon who wrote Mishlei) cites a number of parables to convey this thought and further states (Proverbs 28:27) ‘he who gives to the poor will not be in need...’”
Later in his commentary, Rabbeinu Bachya provides a fascinating explanation to the verses above on how giving charity helps one avoid lies and self-deception. He explains that the spiritual nourishment and elevation one gains in performing the Mitzvah of Tzedakah (charity) prevents and fortifies one against lying and self-deception - and that is why one should make, “every effort” to give charity. Rabbeinu Bachya also implies that the verse above, ‘he who gives to the poor will not be in need...’ can be explained in a similar way: the spiritual elevation one gains from performing the Mitzvah of Tzedakah, causes Hashem to view him more favorably and provide for him.
And this is what Rabbeinu Bachya means when he writes later on, “...that just as the body derives physical gratification from the consumption of honey, so the soul derives spiritual gratification from the absorption of words of wisdom. This is one of the meanings of the verse in Exodus (24:11) ‘They saw Hashem and ate and drank.’” In other words, just as eating and drinking provided physical nourishment to them, so too a vision of Hashem provided them with spiritual nourishment.
It is the spiritual nourishment of the Mitzvah of Tzedakah, that feeds us and provides us with protection and strength to overcome lies and self-deception and make us an honorable people. Surely this is something unique to Bnai Yisrael and something that those from Harvard are not privy to.
