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Rabbi Doron Perez

Torat Senseless Hatred –

HaMizrachi Cause and Cure

ow is it possible to be genuinely But if you were part of another sect whose totally disqualified, we are treading dan-
kind to someone and to hate values and beliefs threatened mine, you gerously close to the abyss of senseless
H them at the same time? were scorned and hated. There was no hatred.
middle road. Only black and white. Either
Remarkably, this is what the Talmud you’re ideologically with me or against How blessed we are to have had a renewed
seems to say regarding the spiritual cause me. Jewish society in Israel for 70 years now.
of the destruction of the Second Temple: We face many challenges in Israel and
Thus the hatred and infighting in Jeru- around the world as to how best chart
“During the Second Temple period the people salem was so disastrous on the eve of the way forward. These issues are often
occupied themselves with Torah, Mitzvot destruction that Josephus describes the extremely divisive because they touch the
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and loving kindness. Why was the temple society as “a great body torn in pieces.” very essence of Jewish life and destiny.
destroyed? Because they acted with Sinat
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Chinam, senseless hatred.” How do disagreements deteriorate into Hence we should always be very wary of
such deep hatred? what the Sages tell us is the spiritual cause
How is this possible? at the heart of destruction: totally disqual-
In the War Scroll, found near the Dead ifying the views of others in our society
The Netziv suggests an answer. The Sea in the caves of Qumran, we can per- and the inability to see any validity in their
people being hated were not the same haps detect an answer. The text – prob- point of view. More than any other, the
ones being showered with loving kind- ably written by the Essenes – describes month of Av is the time of year to reflect
ness: “As a result of the senseless hatred in their its followers as “the sons of light” and all on this cause and to imagine and strive for
hearts that one harbored for the other, they sus- others (including fellow Jews) as “the sons its cure.
pected all those who did not follow their path of darkness.”
as a God-fearing Jew of being a Sadducee and 1 Yoma 9b.
a heretic.” This changes the rules of discourse. 2 Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, HaEmek Davar,
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introduction to the book of Genesis.
If you were part of my community of We are no longer debating views or 3 The Jewish War, Book 5:1.
believers and followed my customs ideas. We are delegitimizing the other as
you were accepted, but if not, you were a person. It is no longer about perspec- Rabbi Doron Perez is Head of
rejected. tives but about the person – vicious ad the Mizrachi World Movement
hominem attacks. It’s no longer about
Sectarianism reigned supreme prior to right and wrong, but about you and me.
the destruction. There were many distinct All who think and act like me are ‘good’
sects: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zeal- and bring spiritual light and morality to Would you like to distribute
ots and Sicarii, and more factions within the world and all who disagree are ‘bad’ HaMizrachi for the Chagim in
these sects. If you were part of my faction, and immoral, invoking spiritual dark- your community? Contact
specific ideological group and commu- ness. When I am absolutely right and you production@mizrachi.org
nity, you were worthy of endless kindness. are absolutely wrong; when the other is

Mizrachi World Movement
Chairman Mr. Harvey Blitz
Head Rabbi Doron Perez Editor-in-Chief Daniel Verbov hamizrachi@mizrachi.org
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