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TISHA B’AV READING

Rabbi Shalom Hammer

The Root of

Baseless Hatred

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

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