|
Rabbi Yaacov Haber
Pashkevil are protest posters that are pasted on walls. They are particularly common in Jerusalem as a means of conveying directives to the public.
I had the privilege of living in Jerusalem. Everyday there are posters about a new threat or problem facing the Jewish community. Most recently there was pashkevil about the dangers of attending public concerts. (Jewish music performed by Orthodox men and children with separate seating). Before that there was pashkevil concerning the dangers of cell phones that have Internet access and before that there was pashkevil about the dangers of certain books that expose the community to foreign concepts.
I'm not commenting on any of the above - I'm simply asking where are the posters about aggressive driving that have cost the lives of so many this summer, or honesty in business, lashon hara or damaging someone else's property, or making excessive noise ,thereby harming your neighbors quality of life?
The Chofetz Chaim in one of his earth shattering letters wrote the following:
"I must speak out my heart about the manner of conflict taking place among the Jewish people. One camp publicizes its view in the newspapers with the signatures of all of its backers. The other side does the same. One of them wrote 'the one with the most signatures wins', and I say the one with the most signatures is creating unnecessary conflict in Israel. All of Israel is burning like a fire as each side places more and more ads condemning their opposition. Even the holy land of Israel is becoming a subject of controversy. I don't know who permitted all of these terrible sins. Everyone is sure that he is saying the truth and it is the other opinion that is creating the argument. This is a grave error, because even if both are right, they have no right to violate the Torah. So many mitzvos are being violated. No good can possibly come out of this. Right or wrong, they are creating a chilul Hashem (desecration of G-d's Name). Twenty-four thousand students of Rabbi Akiva died in one month, not because they argued, but because they argued improperly and caused a chilul Hashem. Certainly each one of these giants felt that he was right."
We recently went through the Nine Days and Tisha B'Av and we learned that all of the suffering that the Jewish people have endured over the past 2000 years is a result of Sinaat Chinam or baseless hate.
We prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with the knowledge that no teshuvah, fasting or selichos will restore our relationship with G-d if we don't first straighten out our affairs with our fellow man. (see Kaf HaChaim 606;3)
|
