Page 5 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

Never-ending elections The cause of divisiveness is clear. But Aharon – bridge builders and unifiers
what is the cure? who can overcome divisions and polar-
We are deeply blessed to be living in izing politics. Unity does not require
a renewed and independent Jewish uniformity and differences need not
state. At the same time, our people In search of national peacemakers lead to disqualification. We need lead-
are struggling with many internal “Aharon the kohen ascended Hor Hahar
and external challenges – extremely and died there in the fortieth year... ers who passionately but respectfully
argue for their own views without
divisive issues that touch on the very in the fifth month on the first of the
essence of Jewish life and destiny. month” (Bamidbar 33:38). The Torah vilifying others. We must reject the
This is particularly true today as we makes a point of telling us that Aharon language of “sons of light” and “sons
prepare for a fifth election in under passed away on Rosh Chodesh Av – the of darkness” and remember that objec-
four years. For the last four years, the only yahrzeit date explicitly mentioned tive truth can include diverse views
electorate has been split down the in the Torah. Remarkably, this date is and beliefs. Rabbinic teachings are
middle, unable to form a stable ruling recorded in Parashat Masei, which is replete with such famous principles
majority. read every year around the time of as “70 facets of the Torah” and “both
opinions are those of the living G-d”.
This troubling reality has eroded Rosh Chodesh Av. The Torah has multiple facets, inter-
our sense of unity. The ongoing elec- None of this, of course, is coincidence. pretations and opinions, all of which
tions not only cost billions of shekels The Torah is charging us to recall the can contain truth.
and make sustainable governance life and legacy of Aharon HaKohen
impossible but they are also having a as we begin observing the Nine Days In this edition of HaMizrachi we focus
damaging and corrosive effect on the of mourning for the Temple. At this on the relationship between the Reli-
country’s societal cohesion. When par- time of year, when we reflect on the gious Zionist and Charedi communi-
ties are in constant “election mode”, spiritual cause of the churban, we must ties and that which both separates and
they remain forever focused on the think of Aharon. Aharon is the anti- unites us. It is our hope and prayer
shortcomings of political opponents dote to the culture of our time, when to encourage a discourse concerning
and seek to sharpen their differences disqualifying and canceling others is our ideological disagreements in a
in order to differentiate themselves de rigueur, Aharon shows us the way spirit of profound Ahavat Yisrael, for
and attract votes. This is true during forward. our bonds of love and camaraderie far
the internal party primaries and then outweigh our disagreements. We must
again in the national elections, leading More than anyone else in Jewish his- never forget that we share a common
to a continuous culture of criticism tory, it is Aharon’s personal example, destiny.
and condemnation. qualities and expertise that are needed
most in our time. At the very dawn “If we were destroyed, and the world
At the same time, differences of with us, due to baseless hatred, then
opinion have become so intense that of our national history, he was the we shall rebuild ourselves, and the
“national peacemaker”, doing every-
debates quickly descend into delegit- world with us, with baseless love, with
imization, demonization and some- thing in his power to encourage peace ahavat chinam” (Rav Avraham Yitzchak
times even blatant hatred. There is and harmony among his fellow Jews HaKohen Kook, Orot HaKodesh III, 324).
little respectful and democratic dis- regardless of their prior differences
course anymore; we have lost even a and painful disagreements.
basic sense of derech eretz and civility Today, we are in desperate need of Rabbi Doron Perez is the Executive Chairman
in our political interactions. national peacemakers in the spirit of of World Mizrachi.

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