The Gemara in Talmud Yoma 9b lists "Sinat Chinam - Baseless Hatred" as the reason for the destruction of the Second Temple. According to Rashi, "Sinat Chinam - Gratuitous Hatred" is hatred directed towards individuals who have not committed any action for which it would be justifiable to hate them.
The use of the English word "hatred" may be too strong. The Gemara in Sanhedrin 27b as well as the Chafetz Chaim call it rather a situation where people don't speak with each other or avoid meeting.
As the fast day 17th of Tammuz and the mourning period before Tisha Be'Av is getting closer, we Jews should reflect our actions towards others; especially our fellow Jews.
Each of us is guilty of something and should try to correct it. I don't think that G - d is too happy seeing us still fighting about unimportant issues. In particular when some Jews believe to be so much better than others. Call it holier, more religious, whatever.
All of us should do some "Cheshbon Nefesh - analyze our actions" and ask himself if we are really so much better than the generation living at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple.
This morning, I went back to Tel Aviv and I done too much today except for reminding myself of my freedom. Not freedom from Torah or G - d but freedom from certain fellow Jews. Those Jews from Mea Shearim calling me Nazi, police spy or Goi last Mozzaei Shabbat (Saturday night). Not, that I took it too seriously and mainly kids were yelling but no adults. However, the mothers around didn't stop their so "holy" daughters of doing so.
Last night I spoke to a woman living in the middle of Mea Shearim on the phone. This particular woman is very open minded but does live in a very Neturei Karta area. I told her about me going to see the last demonstration and she told me something shocking:
"Can you believe it, she said, these kids in our neighbourhood have a new game to play. They play demonstration. One group represent the "Zionist" police and the other groups are the demonstrators. This is what little children are playing in the middle of the Mea Shearim market. How to throw stones at policemen".
I asked her if the neighbourhood doesn't bother her but she stated that she closes her door and has her private life. She hardly talks to the neighbours who keep on telling her to speak Yiddish - but she doesn't even know this language.
Obviously many children in Mea Shearim, at least those from extreme groups, have found new heroes. Those demonstrators throwing stones etc. at the police and who got arrested about ten days ago, where released from jail and got a great welcoming in Mea Shearim.
Is this what G - d wants from us ? Three weeks before Tisha Be'Av, Jews still continue to attack each other ?
Some Haredim may believe that they are the greatest "Sikarikim" but, in reality, they are just becoming false heroes and, furthermore, are making a fool of themselves.
Well said.
ReplyDeleteWords to ponder during the fasting. You raise many questions--if only someone had answers. I hear more about Jews battling other Jews, rather than our enemies. Jews sending letters to b. hussein saying to throw the "settlers" off the land. Was this what people were acting like when the temple was destroyed? What does this mean for us? I pray that we can learn to come together as a people. Thanks for the article.
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteI still believe that it was worse during Temple times. Especially when you look at the Temple corruption. More than 300 Cohanim Gedolim (High Priest) did the Second Temple see whereas there were only 18 durng the First Temple period; and both Temples almost existed for the same time.
Where were there 300 High Priests during the Second Temple ? Because anyone with cash could get voted into the job and usually died in the Kodesh HaKodeshim on Yom Kippur. Many of those High Priests weren't even Jewish; they considered themselves as Hellenists.
From this point of view, we are a little better, I hope.
In Israel it is very common that Jews fight other Jews. It looks like a real society issue. Just start between the differences of Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews.:-))
However, I don't understand the Neturei Karta for trying to get rid of Israel. They may mean well and think that, as soon as there is no Zionist state anymore, Meshiach would come. But there are also other Talmudic opinions and the Neturei Karta may be wrong.
You mentioned that many of the High Priests were Hellenists. Do you think that all the false converts becoming rabbis (women yet!) are maybe in this category as well? What about all the different strains of Judaism? Or the idiots who say they are Jews for the j-guy. This is so very scary! In this situation is it right for one to just concentrate on their own davening and ignore what is happening? Nobody seems to have any answers and things are getting worse.
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteIn Orthodoxy, we don't have female rabbis !
I am not concentrating on all the negative but try seeing the positive. When I don't feel comfortable in a community, I start looking for something else where I do.
You can pray by youself but a Jew should look for a community. Not because of Minyan and everything but certain community prayers are more accepted than others. And, by the way, no Jew should start his own thing and stay alone at home.
An new game?! they've been playing that game for over sixty years.
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteYes, I know but for me, this is still unbelievable. Someone told me to go to the Talmud Torah at Supnik and look at the boys how they spend their breaks.