Page 32 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'Av AUS 2021

TISHA B’AV READING

Rabbi Shalom Hammer

The Root of

Baseless Hatred

he Talmud says that one of the will more readily listen to their peers. in mind the dictum of “love your neigh-
reasons the second Beit HaMikdash This is why Rabbi Yehoshua instructed, bor as yourself” especially with regards
was destroyed was because of “Make for yourself a Rabbi, and acquire to sensitive issues like correcting others’
T“baseless hatred.” What was the for yourself a friend.” While one should behavior.
nature of this “baseless hatred”? seek halachic guidance from those who Rav Yehonatan points out that the prophet
are more knowledgeable, one also needs
The Jewish community is outstanding Yirmiyahu also felt that more could have
when it comes to physical acts of chesed the unique spiritual support that only been done to provide for the people’s spir-
and volunteerism, as is evident from friendship and camaraderie can offer. itual needs, as written in Eicha: “All her
mitzvot like bikur cholim (visiting the sick), Unfortunately, there are many who do not people sigh, they seek bread; they have
hachnasat orchim (hospitality) and pidyon understand that sometimes honest rebuke traded their pleasant things for food to
shevuim (redeeming Jewish captives). Rav is an indication of love. refresh the soul. See, G-d, and behold how
Yehonatan Eybeshitz explains that while Similarly, the Zohar says that when a con- abject I have become.” The people who
these mitzvot are certainly laudable, spir- gregation recites the blessing of mechayeh seek bread are those who were looking for
itual support is far more important – but hameitim in Shemoneh Esrei, G-d asks, “Who spiritual meaning, but because the Jewish
unfortunately more scarce – within the is it that took the effort to reprimand sin- leadership did not provide any, they looked
Jewish community. ners and attempt to return them to the elsewhere for fulfillment and traded their
court of their king?” In response, “an angel “pleasant” Jewish heritage for heathen
arrives and brings the visage of such a culture by engaging in promiscuity and
person.” This teaching shows that one who idolatry.
corrects others’ behavior is deserving of Rabbi Berel Wein says that when he speaks
Heavenly commendation, but what does
Unfortunately, there are many the blessing of mechayeh hameitim have to from the pulpit he is not talking to his
who do not understand that do with it? congregation. He is speaking to himself.
sometimes honest rebuke Rav Yehonatan explains that spirituality I imagine that only someone who feels he
is speaking to himself and is interested in
is an indication of love. is the essence of life. Therefore, someone improving his own spirituality, is capable
lacking spirituality is likened to being of offering others spiritual direction as
For example, many show no concern dead. When one guides the evil back to well. Which in turn will contribute to the
when they see others talking improperly, the right path, he is essentially providing restoration of Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh.
behaving immodestly or talking during them with a new lease on life. Performing
tefilla. This lack of concern for another’s the mitzvah of rebuking others gives the
spiritual wellbeing is a form of the baseless average person the ability to perform a
hatred that led to the destruction of the miracle on the scale wrought by the proph-
second Beit HaMikdash. Towards the end of ets Eliyahu and Elisha, who both literally
that period, the majority of the Jews were brought the dead back to life:
observant and maintained the standards
expected of them. Other large sectarian “Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said in Rabbi
minorities, however, such as the Tzedukkim Yonatan’s name: ‘The righteous are des-
and Baytusim, did not subscribe to the Oral tined to resurrect the dead, for it is said:
Law, the Torah shebe’al peh, and subscribed Once again, old men and old women shall
to all manner of deviant practices. Addi- sit in the broad places of Yerushalayim,
tional groups adopted extreme and ascetic every man with his staff in his hand for old
strictures. Yet the Rabbis did not rebuke age; and it is written (concerning Elisha’s Rabbi Shalom Hammer is an IDF educa-
these instigators. This indifference can be resurrection of the child): And lay my staff tor and Founder and Director of Makom
considered a form of baseless hatred. upon the face of the child.’” Meshutaf educational programming,
under the auspices of World Mizra-
While an important part of a Rabbi’s job However, those who do attempt to ‘resur- chi. He has authored five books. www.
is to offer spiritual guidance and rebuke rect the dead’ in this non-literal manner rabbihammer.com
when necessary, there are certain advan- must themselves stay paragons of virtue
tages when a lay person reprimands his or else risk appearing hypocritical. Chazal A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
fellow, primarily because some people added that above all, it is important to keep mizrachi.org/speakers

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