Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim
www.mesora.org
What generates anti-Semitism? Is it any different than hatred towards any religion and its people? Is it caused by the Jews’ poor actions? Or does anti-Semitism exist regardless of how Jews act? Aside from attacking Jews verbally or physically, is it justifiable? If not, how may it be eliminated?
A Rabbi once explained:
“When Jacob was strategizing how to escape from the clutches of his approaching twin Eisav, he told Eisav, “I have resided with the wicked Lavan and yet have kept the 613 commandments and have not learnt from his wicked deeds." What does Eisav, the wicked, and the rejecter of Torah values, care if Jacob kept the 613 commandments while he lived with Lavan? Furthermore, it seems this message could only antagonize Eisav.
Chazal (the Rabbis) say, quoting the Rambam in his Igeret Teyman, that the reason the mountain from which the Torah was given was called Sinai, was because from this same mountain came down sinah (hatred) to the other nations of the world. Meaning to say that the very source of the hatred that the other nations harbor toward the Jews - is the Torah itself. What then did Jacob intend to accomplish by implying to Eisav that he kept the Torah, when this very Torah was the source of Eisav's hatred for Yaakov?
The
Rabbi also expounded:
“The Talmud (Pesachim 49b) tells us that the hatred of an ignorant Jew toward the Torah scholar is greater than the hatred the idolaters have for the Jewish nation.”
In
both instances the cause is the same: Eisav resented his twin Jacob for the
blessings Isaac their father gave to Jacob exclusively. And the Talmud teaches
that Gentiles hate the Jew for their reception of the Torah at Sinai. Both
Eisav and the Gentiles are resentful of G-d’s favoritism for the Jew. (Jacob’s
blessing from Isaac were bestowed with G-d’s will.) When the Talmud compares
the ignorant Jew’s hatred of the Torah scholar exceeds the Gentiles’ hatred of
the Jews, our idea finds additional support: the ignorant Jew is more aware of
the Torah than the Gentile. As such, he senses more accurately what he lacks,
and acts out this disdain for his own shortcomings, by hating he that has the
good, i.e., the Torah. However, since a gentile is less informed about the
Torah truths than a typical Jew, his disdain is on a lesser level.
We
come to understand the root of anti-Semitism as jealousy over religion. One,
who is anti-Semitic, is so as he is deeply disturbed by his knowledge that he
is not favored by G-d. This is an area where man’s emotions are most aroused.
Man’s primary barometer of self-estimation is tied to what he knows truthfully
is the “self”, i.e., his values and religious beliefs. It is therefore no
surprise that it is religion that is the root of so many wars throughout
history.
When
other nations are confronted with the indisputable truth of G-d’s Sinaic
selection of the Jew as His emissaries to the world, there is a sibling rivalry
of sorts. But the Jew is at fault if he boasts this role, while simultaneously
abandoning his observance of the Torah. Even the Torah observer too cannot
boast that which was bestowed on “Abraham’s descendants”, and not due to his
own merit. Personal merit is not why we are the chosen people. This is a denial
of G-d’s own words:
Deuteronomy, 10:15:
"Only in your fathers
did God desire and did He love them, and He chose their seed after them
from all other peoples, as this day."
Jews
are selected due to their descent from Abraham, and Abraham was selected based
on his absolute, undiluted adherence to truth. All peoples should take a lesson
from G-d’s word. G-d “chooses” only those who adhere to truth, as exemplified
by Abraham. One who adheres to truth must come to the realization that
“multiple religions” must contradict each other by definition. All must be false
- except one. The goal is to arrive at an honest acceptance of what reality
determines is the true, G-d-given religion. But until such a time when
religions will embrace truth, in place of the current “defend-at-all-cost”
approach, anti-Semitism will be alive and well, seeking opportunities to attack
G-d’s chosen, as a means of self justification.
The
Rabbi who I quoted earlier taught that Jacob’s response to Eisav was for good
reason. We might think that telling a wicked Eisav that he has not veered from
the Torah has no meaning to him. But in fact, it does. Jacob understood that in
order for one to hate the Jew, he must have justifiable cause to vent his
aggression. The cause in Jacob’s case would be Jacob’s abandonment of the
monotheistic system received from Isaac, and learned on his own. Only in this
case would Eisav feel justified in killing Jacob. The Rabbi said:
“There is an amazing Rashi in support of this idea in Toldos regarding the blessing Yitzchak gave to Eisav. Toldos 27:38-40: "Yitzchak, his [Eisav's] father replied and said to him... you shall live by your sword, and you shall serve your brother. When you have cause to be grieved, you will throw off his yoke from your neck." And on the words "when you have caused to be grieved," Rashi writes, "... meaning to say, when the Israelites will transgress the Torah and you will have justification to grieve over the blessings which he took, [then] you will throw off his yoke."
With
no fault, Eisav could not harm Jacob. For this reason, Jacob told Eisav that he
did not veer from the Torah. A person requires justification for all his
actions, unconditionally. The Rabbi also quoted the Koran, where it penalizes
the Jew for veering from his laws, and thus, deserving of attack by the Koran.
We see the same principle at work.
In
contrast, when the Jews uphold G-d’s Torah, they are admired, as the Torah
says:
"And you shall watch them and keep them as they (the commands) are your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations, who will hear all these statutes and declare 'what a wise and understanding people is this great nation. Because what great nation has God close to them like God, whenever (they) call to Him? And what great nation has statutes and laws as righteous as this entire Torah'..." (Deuteronomy 4:6-8)
One
example of when this took place, was during King Solomon’s reign, when Queen
Sheba came to hear his wisdom, bringing his lavish gifts:
Kings I, 10:1-10:
“And Queen Sheba heard the tidings of Solomon in the name of G-d, and she came to test him with riddles. And she came to Jerusalem with an exceedingly great entourage, camels carrying spices, and very much gold, and fine stones, and she came to Solomon and spoke to him, all that she had on her heart. And Solomon told her all her words, there was no matter hidden from the king that e did not tell (respond) to her. And Queen Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house (Temple) that he built. And the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his officers, and their clothing and their drinks, and his sacrifices that he brought up to the house of G-d, and she had no spirit left in her. And she said to the king, “The matter that I heard in my land was true regarding your matters and your wisdom. And I did not believe the matters until I came, and my eyes saw, and not even half the matter was told to me, there is more wisdom and good than the matter I heard. It should be that G-d is blessed, in that he desired you, to place you onto the throne of Israel in G-d’s eternal love for Israel, and He has placed you as king to do justice and righteousness.” And she gave to the king 120 kikar of gold, and very much spices, and fine stones, there never came again the quantity of spices that Queen Sheba gave to King Solomon.”
Queen
Sheba – who our Rabbis describe as a greatly intelligent person – received
answers to every one of her riddles. The verse says she “heard the
tidings of Solomon in the name of G-d”. This
means her inquiries were about true, deep wisdom, G-d’s knowledge. She was so
impressed by King Solomon’s wisdom that she said “It should be that G-d
is blessed.” What is significant is that her
response was praise for G-d. She did not come to King Solomon with any agenda
to find fault with him, supporting her culture. Queen Sheba, who searched for
truth and found it in abundance in King Solomon, was awed by the Creator – not
anti-Semitic towards His chosen ones.
Anti-Semitism
can be dealt with. If Jews study Torah and live in accord with the perfect
ideas created by G-d, other nations will have an opportunity to see G-d’s
wisdom. This is our obligation. And when the nations are afforded knowledge of
G-d’s Torah through contact with learned Jews, they will see a different life.
They will be imbued with the perfection of Judaism, and will desire to learn
more. They will appreciate the wisdom G-d desires all mankind to possess. The
nations will no longer focus on “people”, or Jews, but they will focus on G-d.
This is exactly what happened with Queen Sheba. She came to King Solomon to
verify his knowledge, and she ended with a love for G-d’s wisdom, displayed in
the king’s answers. Her unmatched gifts prove her sincerity. As any scientist
is awed by the cosmos, any person will be awed by the wisdom that is encapsulated
in the Torah. But if as Jews, we do not study, and perform the Torah’s laws, by
what means will other nations have a chance at seeing Torah wisdom? By what
means will other nations realize the true distinction of the Jew, and abandon
anti-Semitism?
Jews
continue to act with an ignorant, destructive, and disgusting arrogance,
instead of a learned concern for other nations. This is seen in Yeshivas who
scorn Gentiles with the term “Goy”, with overly religious parents who won’t
allow their children to marry converts, and with Jews in general who feel
“above” others. Wake up. Didn’t G-d create the Gentile nations as well? Doesn’t
He desire their perfection too?
Jews
are not making an effort to conclude whether Judaism is truth, whether Sinai
actually proves G-d’s existence, and His will that we adhere to the Torah. This
is laziness, and it is self-destructive. Would you be astonished to know that
the greatest minds found Sinai as a clear proof of G-d’s existence? Perhaps you
are afraid of the obligations that follow such a realization. How can a person
ignore the fact that he or she is “created”, and there must be a Creator? How
can one ignore clear proof that G-d exists, gave us a Torah, and that it is for
our good, and is the most pleasurable life?
Jews
attempt to assimilate to a lifestyle not desired by G-d. Intermarriage and
adoption of alien, cultural habits are the primary symptoms of a Jew’s
corruption. Torah was given to oppose alien lifestyles, and Jews do just the
opposite, they gravitate to heathen practices, and anti-Semitic peoples. Jews
wish to gain approval in the eyes of those who did not receive the Torah. It is
sadly backwards. The Jew is to be a teacher, not a student.
Ironically,
the very abandoning of our concern for approval by other nations, and rather,
adhering to our heritage, displaying G-d’s truth and knowledge through
performing His commands, is the very solution to the anti-Semitic problem.
Studying and applying Judaism, the only true religion, (plagiarized by others)
not only instills truths and appreciation for reality in our minds, but in the
hearts and minds of every other nation.
Placating
other nations with foolish tactics of freeing homicide bombers, curtailing
revenge on murders, and talking peace with assassins and butchers, is the
problem, not the solution. These decsions are not the result of studying G-d’s
wisdom, but are gravely, ignorant errors, and therefore will continue to fail.
G-d
knows what creates peace. He commanded us in the Torah for our own good, and for
the good of all peoples. Follow G-d’s absolute, true ideas, not man’s invented
politics.
Anti-Semitism
will end when the nations see the beauty in G-d’s Torah. Until then, Jews show
them nothing but desperation, and a people who abandoned their G-d. As Jacob
taught us, this justifies their attacks.