B"H
"Sin'at Chinam - baseless hatred" is one of the most tragic causes of destruction in Judaism. All Jews are required to love each other. No one should look down on the other person and think that he or she is so much better.
Especially in this time of counting the Omer (from Pessach to Shavuot), "baseless hatred" is of extreme importance. In says in Talmud Yevamot that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died in a plague because each of them thought that he is better than the other student. And as they were supposed to be on such a high level, G - d punished them for their egoistic behaviour.
And are we so much better today ?
Of course not, as we are no super humans. Over and over again we love to do the same mistakes and get ourselves back into trouble.
I wouldn't really call it "baseless hatred" but rather "voluntarily separation". Today many Jewish religious groups refuse having contact with other groups which are not exactly like them.
"You don't like my Rebbe and I don't like your Rebbe".
So, where is the togetherness ?
If you walk around downtown Jerusalem, Bnei Brak or in any Israeli town, you will see religious women not associating with other religious women. Many haredi women do not associate with national religious women. Why ? Because the others might not be as religious and pious as I am. Therefore, I have to separate myself.
The national religious women, on the other hand, don't too much separate but would be ready to associate with haredi women. The other problem occuring is: Would the national religious associate with the secular ?
I cannot be your friend because you are not on the same level as I am. I am haredi and you are "only" national religious. I am religious and you are just secular. I am haredi and don’t go to your national religious Shiurim (classes).
What I keep on noticing is that men are not so much into that separation. In the streets I see countless chassidic guys talking to the national religious and even to the secular. In their daily lives, religious men might come into more contact with different kinds of societies than their women at home.
So, where are we today ?
We Jews still don't love to associate with anyone.
If I look religious, wearing a skirt etc., the religious talk to me. If I don't, many don't even look at me.
As Rabbi Mordechai Machlis likes to say:
"Many Jews might be surprised when Meshiach is coming. If Meshiach isn't from their particular group but someone else".
Obviously only the Meshiach can bring us all together at one table. A very sad thought.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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It's my understanding that Meshiach will not come until there is peace across the world. It would seem that it is up to each of us to extend hands across the lines of haradim, Chassid, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and secular Jews. (not too sure about the Reconstructerists ;))
ReplyDeleteEven the most secular of Jews have a deep avhodos for Torah and our Jewish heritage.
I gain much from reading Breslov. I gain much when Chabad from New Orleans comes to our Conservative sysnagogue in Gulfport Mississippi and offers programs on sukkot, Hannukah, etc. In fact Chabad of New Orleans was one of the first relief groups to arrive on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and supplied thousands with food and water.
But the most striking thing I've learned is in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In New Orleans, the Reform synagogue was destroyed, Chabad of New Orleans made space for the Reform sysnagogue. So at Chabad of New Orleans, Reform and Chabad exist in one building. Avhodos
My synagogue has been meeting in the meeting hall\kitchen area of a Methodist church. We want our synagogue rebuilt and hopefully it will be by the end of the year. Avhodos
It is possible to live with and help one another even across differences. Sadly, sometimes it takes a disaster like Hurricane Katrina to show that it is possible.
B"H
ReplyDeleteHello Shira,
There are different reasons listed in Talmud Sanhedrin 97 ff., when the Meshiach is coming. Not necessarily a firm date but rather different circumstances.
Either there is peace, the Jews keep Shabbat or the Jews are getting so bad that Meshiach has to come.
We have the same in Jerusalem. As soon as there is a bomb attack, people stand together. No matter if religious or not. It is sad that sometimes we really need a catastrophe to become aware of a certain kind of togetherness.