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TORAT HAMIZRACHI

Rabbi Doron Perez

SENSELESS HATRED

Cause and Cure

ow is it possible to be white. Either you’re ideologically with essence of Jewish life and destiny.
genuinely kind to someone me or against me. This is particularly true during the
Hand to hate them at the same prolonged election period in Israel.
time? Thus the hatred and infighting in Respectful democratic discourse often
Jerusalem were so disastrous on the descends into sharp divisiveness,
Remarkably, this is what the Talmud eve of destruction that Josephus delegitimization and demonization.
seems to say regarding the spiritual describes the society as “a great body
cause of the destruction of the Second torn in pieces.” 3 The Torah hints to the cure of this
Temple: destructive phenomenon when it tells
How do disagreements deteriorate us that Aharon the High Priest passed
“During the Second Temple period, the into such deep hatred? away on Rosh Chodesh Av, the first
people occupied themselves with Torah, day of the month of Av. At the onset
4
Mitzvot and lovingkindness. Why was In the War Scroll, found near the Dead of what would become the most tragic
the Temple destroyed? Because they Sea in the caves of Qumran, we can time in Jewish history – the first nine
acted with Sinat Chinam – senseless perhaps detect an answer. The text days of the month of Av culminating in
hatred.” 1 – probably written by the Essenes – Tisha B’Av – we are charged to recall
describes its followers as “the sons of
How is this possible? light” and all others (including fellow Aharon’s life and legacy. More than
anyone else in our history, he was the
Jews) as “the sons of darkness.”
The Netziv suggests an answer: national peacemaker, always doing
The people being hated were not This changes the rules of discourse. everything he could to create peace
the same ones being showered with and harmony between fellow Jews,
lovingkindness: “As a result of the We are no longer debating views or despite salient differences and painful
senseless hatred in their hearts that one ideas. We are delegitimizing the other personal disputes. 5
harbored for the other, they suspected as a person. It is no longer about At this time of year when we reflect on
all those who did not follow their perspectives but about the person what the Sages tell us is the spiritual
path as a G-d-fearing Jew of being a – vicious ad hominem attacks. It’s cause of the destruction of the Temple
Sadducee and a heretic.” 2 no longer about right and wrong,
but about you and me. All who think – senseless hatred – we should evoke
If you were part of my community of and act like me are ‘good’ and bring Aharon’s memory and aim to strive for
believers and followed my customs spiritual light and morality to the its cure.
you were accepted, but if not, you were world and all who disagree are ‘bad’
rejected. and immoral, invoking spiritual 1 Yoma 9b.
darkness. When I am absolutely right 2
Sectarianism reigned supreme prior and you are absolutely wrong; when Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, HaEmek
to the destruction. There were many the other is totally disqualified and Davar, introduction to the book of Genesis.
distinct sects – Pharisees, Sadducees, seen as part of ‘the dark side,’ we are 3 The Jewish War, Book 5:1.
Essenes, Zealots and Sicarii – and treading dangerously close to the abyss 4 Interestingly, this is the only yahrzeit date
more factions within these sects. If of senseless hatred. mentioned explicitly in the Torah – that
Aaron died on the first day of the 5th month.
you were part of my faction, specific (Bamidbar 33:38). Remarkably, this appears
ideological group and community, you How blessed we are to have a renewed in Parashat Masei which is read every year
were worthy of endless kindness. But Jewish society in Israel. We face many around Rosh Chodesh Av.
if you were part of another sect whose challenges here and around the world 5 Avot DeRabbi Natan 12.
values and beliefs threatened mine, as to how best chart the way forward.
you were scorned and hated. There These issues are often extremely Rabbi Doron Perez is the Chief Executive of
was no middle road. Only black and divisive because they touch the very World Mizrachi

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