A new campaign to end this Golus

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A new campaign to end this Golus

By Rabbi Y. R. Rubin Shlita

As the body replenishes itself after the fast of Tisha B’Av, we are filled with snippets of thoughts, both heard and learned during the last few weeks. These are not simple times; we are being challenged on many fronts. Politically, Klal Yisroel is experiencing ever more anti-Semitism with governments turning away whilst offering deals to our greatest enemies. Within, we find many of our young, fragile families being shaken with difficult tests. All that we see around us has its painful origins in our loss of the Beis Hamikdosh and we are meant to learn from our past so as to pick up the strength to go forwards.

In truth, after immersing oneself in the many sources obtainable during the Three Weeks one may very well become crushed by what seems to be the futility of it all. What can we do? Where can we start? Thousands of years have passed by and nothing seems to have changed. We are still in Golus and things don’t really seem to be improving.

“If we are ever to merit seeing an end to the darkness we must actually create sparks of light”

We know that the second Beis Hamikdosh was destroyed because of sinas chinom, hate with no real reason. It seems apparent that the main reason we are still wallowing in this hate-filled Golus is because we haven’t come to terms with this aspect of life. We all talk about rectifying our feelings towards others, but still, the hate goes on. What are we missing here? We have all heard the shiurim and seen the new and entertaining Tisha B’Av presentations, yet the nub of the problem remains: we just can’t stop this soul-corroding hate.

As much as this is tragically true, so are its reasons. There is no one answer to fit all, because hate is a fungus-like malady, spreading in our souls like a blanket of darkness. One thing is certain: it starts from within and therefore must be tackled from there. We are a weak generation; we shiver at the smallest challenge, yet this one is as urgent as it is difficult. Yes, we can undertake any number of new strictures in halocho and even turn generations of religious practice on their head. However, when it comes to our relationships with others we are stuck in a rut of anger and self-righteousness. Youngsters are being turned away from mosdos, families ostracized for petty unsubstantiated causes. It seems that in the realm of non-judgmental love for our fellow Jew we have lost our way.

In this week’s parsha we read the second version of the Aseres Hadibros. The Mabit makes a remarkable observation about the two luchos on which they were inscribed. Chazal explain that the two luchos were focusing on different areas of the mitzvos: the first luach consisted of mitzvos that relate to the realm of bein adam leMakom (between man and Hashem), such as belief in Hashem and observing Shabbos. The second luach consisted of mitzvos that relate to bein adam lechaveiro (between man and his fellow), such as the prohibitions not to kill, and not to covet.

The Mabit points out that there were far more words on the first luach than on the second. Accordingly, there was much less space to fit all the words on the first luach than on the second. Therefore, it must be that the words in the first luach were written in a far smaller font than those in the second. This, the Mabit argues, was done deliberately by Hashem so that the side that discussed the bein adam lechaveiro mitzvos would be more noticeable than the side that focused on bein adam leMakom. The Mabit explains that this is because the yetzer hara is strongest in the area of bein adam lechaveiro. Hashem wanted people to focus more on the mitzvos that relate to bein adam lechaveiro, because extra effort is required to overcome the yetzer hara in this area. This is a powerful insight, one worthy of deep consideration.

Klal Yisroel is a holy nation, one able to carry on doing the Torah’s bidding despite all the obstacles that stand in our way. Every Yid that puts on tefillin or makes a brocho is a hero. In a world of billions, one small nation strives for spiritual perfection. As I have often mentioned, our tzaddikim were wont to say: Alla Yieden zenen hielig, All Jews are holy! We can turn all this around, by teaching the mitzvos that are bein adam lechaveiro with more urgency. This must be the campaign of our generation; everything else pales in contrast.

If we are ever to merit seeing an end to the darkness we must actually create sparks of light. It will be this merit that will usher in the end of our Golus and finally allow the illumination of Hashem’s Glory to bring its holiness back to the world.

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