Page 5 - HaMizrachi Tisha bAv 5783 USA

fact that none of the public notables and him to take a conservative passive stance The non-stop disruptions in places all
rabbis interceded, that he decided to seek of not ruling to allow a forbidding sacrifice around the world when some members
vengeance on the whole society. or kill a fellow Jew. Unfortunately, in the of the coalition speak, with protesters
harsh reality of life and leadership, proac- shouting “busha, busha, shame, shame” has
It was then that he began a course tivity and courage are needed. The source no red lines. Recently, when MK Simcha
of action which ultimately led to the
destruction of the Temple – this was the of his greatness became the source of his Rothman spoke in a shul in New Jersey,
unintended long-term consequence of the weakness in this specific circumstance. protesters outside were shouting “shame,
hosts actions. Bar Kamtza ‘informed’ the Rabbi Zechariah’s short-sighted view of shame that you came even to listen to
Romans that the Jews were about to rebel what he felt was right in the particular Rothman.” It is disgraceful that people
short-term, led so quickly to long-term
are shamed for coming to merely listen to
against them, based on the “proof” that
they would not offer a sacrifice brought devastating consequences. another view about a significant political
by the Romans to the Temple. When the Confronting the potential long-term issue. The proliferation in recent years of
Romans sent a sacrifice to check it out, impact of our actions is absolutely critical this type of public humiliation and disrup-
Bar Kamtza made a blemish behind the in decision-making and according to the tion, starting with the opposition to the
Bennett-Lapid government and continu-
animal’s lip which disqualified it for the Sages of the South and Rabbi Shimon, the
Jews but not for the Romans. The rabbis single greatest quality of wisdom and life ing in much greater proportions against
believed the right thing under the circum- respectively. the current government is alarming. Our
stances was to offer the forbidden blem- politicians need to consider very care-
ished sacrifice in order to avoid angering Democratic discourse vs. anarchic fully the long-term consequences of their
actions. When lines are crossed in political
the Romans and presenting a danger to
Jewish life. Rabbi Zechariah ben Avkulas, chaos discourse for the sake of immediate gain
the leading sage, ruled against it with the In recent years we are encountering an without considering the implications for
argument that “people will say that it is ever-increasing political discourse which future discourse, an unintended snowball
permitted to offer blemished sacrifices is now bordering on anarchic chaos. The effect is unleashed.
on the Temple.” When the sages argued democratic right to protest has been taken
further that Bar Kamtza would now go to such extremes that it has started cross- A time for civility
and inform the Romans that the sacrifice ing all boundaries of civility and basic We are treading very close to the abyss
was not offered and this with potentially human dignity. This began in 2021 with of causeless hatred which was a primary
devastating consequences, Rabbi Zecha- the inauguration of Prime Minister Ben- cause of the Temple’s destruction (Yoma
riah ben Avkulas, once again argued that nett, which saw so much vocal protest 9b). Equally, the lack of foresight by the
he should not be harmed as “people will that so many parliamentarians had to be host and bystanders when Bar Kamtza
say that it is permissible to kill a someone removed from the Parliamentary plenum. was humiliated as well as Rabbi Zech-
who offers a blemished sacrifice.” In the Members of the opposition were then sum- ariah’s lack of foresight are also salient
end the sacrifice was not brought and marily excluded from key committees. In reasons for the destruction.
Bar Kamtza was not harmed. He indeed protest to the breaking of campaign prom-
as expected went on to deceitfully relay ises of members of Bennett’s Yamina party Leaders, and indeed all of us, must be
the news of an imaginary Jewish rebellion in joining the then coalition, their par- exceptionally careful what means we
which ultimately led to the destruction of liamentarians were constantly harassed deploy to get our way in the short-term.
the Temple. outside their private homes as well as Acts taken for immediate gain can unleash
sometimes during synagogue services. a snowball of unexpected consequences
which alter the rules of the game. It is high
Short-sighted humility When the current government unveiled
their judicial reform program, there was time to put political gain and short-term
A second unintended consequence was the much anger by many who felt that this considerations aside and engage in civil,
conservative and humble ruling of Rabbi had gone too far. They began to exercise respectful debate for the sake of the long-
Zechariah ben Avkulas. Immediately at the their legitimate right to protest and to term integrity of our society.
end of the story, the sage Rabbi Yochanan vociferously oppose the plans. But then
then very sharply opined “as a result of the lines were crossed when 200 IDF pilots It is time to wake up. Too much depends
humility of Rabbi Zechariah ben Avkulas decided in protest not to show up for on it.
the Temple was destroyed.”
training. Putting Israel’s security on the
Rabbi Zechariah ben Avkulas was a line is crossing a thick red line. Bringing
humble purist, a person who could not life-saving issues of consensus such as the
bring himself to rule proactively on some- army into the center of the political fray
thing controversial. It is true that it was is a disturbing precedent. Similarly, some
a tough and controversial decision to leaders overtly or covertly encouraged
offer a blemished sacrifice or certainly financial disinvestment from Israel as a
to kill Bar Kamtza, but it is equally true legitimate tactic. Bringing the army and Rabbi Doron Perez
that not doing so was much worse and economy – Israel’s security and economic is the Executive Chairman
caused horrific long-term destruction to stability – into partisan politics has dan- of World Mizrachi.
the Jewish people. His humility prodded gerous long-term consequences.

| 5