CHOCHMAS NASHIM: VAYISHLACH:
COSTCO AND THE COMMUNAL BAD
By: Suri Davis
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks gave a beautiful drasha on TorahCafe.com about the acts of Simon and Levi and their retribution against the entire city of Shchem.
In this week’s torah portion, Jacob’s daughter, Dina, goes out of her home to see the women of Shchem. Shchem, a prince in the city of Shchem, sees Dina and “took her, lay with her and violated her.”Genesis 34:2.
The midrash lets us know that this act of violation became known in the City, and Shchem was not brought to justice. For the failure of the city to act, Maimonides view is that Simon and Levi were justified for their retribution against the entire City.
Rabbi Sacks questions whether the concept of being a brother’s keeper is a uniquely Jewish concept, or whether it applies to all the nations. He brings proof that it applies to all the nations of the world, through the concept of communal justice.
But while we are our brothers’ keeper, are we permitted to take justice into our own hands. Rabbi Sacks raises the question between those who commit an act, and one who stands by and permits the act to occur.
I remember in law school learning about a heinous crime in New York. There was a woman stabbed numerous times while others in the vicinity stood by. May one watch a crime occur and not intervene. May one watch another bleed or choke, and not help or call for help. It is the question of a good Samaritan, one is not legally obligated to help, true. But Rabbi Sacks differentiates between legal obligation and moral obligation.
There is no doubt that Shchem committed a crime, and the he ought to be brought to justice by a city court. As to those who refrained from assisting Dina, or were complicit in the act, there was no legal obligation, therefore a city court could not act. BUT, there was a moral failure by those in the City, and for that, G-d exacts retribution.
When a Jew commits a public wrong, we are obligated to publicly castigate him, tell the world that his acts are not the acts of Jews, that we do not agree with an act. It is a moral imperative.
Hitler was voted into power by the Germans. As the killing machine progressed the Germans knew. Eventually, even the Jews in America, and some who were in government with FDR knew, and did nothing.
The Palestinians elected Hamas, espouse Hamas’ views on killing civilians and using their own children as human shields.
We have voted into Congress Congresswomen who are explicitly anti-Israel, pro-BDS.
In Europe as well, there are those in British parliament and in France and other European countries who are rabidly anti-semitic.
It is our duty to speak out against them and their views and acts. Ronald Lauder has committed $25mm to defeat those in Congress who are anti-semitic.
We cannot afford to be indifferent. While we are not a violent nation, and we cannot kill those who support violent acts against Jews, we can raise our voice and ballots loudly to defeat those who are immoral and support illegal immoral activity.
This week, there were speech hate crimes committed by one person against two Jews in a local Costco. When the police were called, they did not arrest the perpetrator. But we raised our voices against the hate crime, and indeed, this man was arrested later, and charged with vulgar speech and hate crimes.
Twice last month, the Holocaust Center in Glen Clove was violated with swastikas. We cannot afford to be indifferent, our silence will be taken as acquiescence, and we will be morally wrong.
I am disheartened by Social Media, my personal experience with social media. It turns kind, rational people into a pack of wolves. I flew with my parents a while back and they pre-ordered wheel chairs to help them through the airport. We waited a while for the wheelchairs, but the person at the Delta wheelchair counter was apathetic, not only about my parents, but there were a dozen others stranded, waiting for wheelchairs. I contacted managers on Delta’s Facebook page, and within minutes a dozen wheelchairs arrived to help those in need. There were 137 vile and vindictive comments in response to my request.
There are those who request travel help on Dansdeals’ Facebook page. They are met with snide disgusting comments which are condescending and shameful.
Where is this vulgar language and commentary coming from? Who has given the world license to feel that they are primary commentators, actors and actresses? Social media and reality t.v., the purpose of which is to be controversial and vulgar and obnoxious.
It is our current media frenzy which encourages these anti-semitic vulgar beasts to let loose, giving them spotlights, and likes, and loves, and a platform to think that what they think about others is even significant. It is our job, as in the Costco matter, that words come cheap, sentiments are dangerous. That when immoral speech is shot out of a mouth, or computer, or platform, that it rises to illegality, tolerated by none.
We are our brothers’ keepers, we need to punish illegality and scream out against immorality.
Shabbat shalom.
-Suri