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Dec 14, 2010
The Blame Game Strikes Again
Adding to the list, Rav Ovadia and Rav Sherman have both announced that the recent tragedies, specifically the recent fires in the Carmel Forest are the result of improper judges. They referred to psukim and quotes from the Gemara as proof.
Besides for the fact that the list is continuing to grow, so basically what are we supposed to do or think to fix it, it makes me uncomfortable when we blame others for things. Yes, the gemara says inappropriate judges are the cause of x, y and z. Chilul Shabbos is the cause of a,b, and c. Laxity in issues of tzniyus is the cause of h, i and j. Does that mean it is everyone else's laxity that is causing the problems? Did God want us to inspect everyone else's behavior?
Perhaps we should be less concerned about laying blame at everyone else's doors using the gemara as our proof that it is their fault, and more concerned with figuring out what we, the frum community, the frum people, can do to improve and what lessons we can learn for ourselves from these tragedies. If it is due to inappropriate judges, maybe there is something wrong with the judges we appoint to our batei din, or maybe there is somethign lacking in the level of respect we give to them. Chillul Shabbos - maybe we are lax in certain aspects of chillul shabbos. Tzniyus? bittul torah? you name it and I am surwe we can find ways to apply the issues of laxity to that realm.
Yes, of course the gemara is right that chillul shabbos is the cause, not enough love of the mitzvos and Hashem is the cause, inappropriate judges is the cause, tzniyus and pritzus is the cause. But it is our judge to inspect our ways and behaviors and figure out where to improve, rather than to inspect other people's ways and behaviors.
Besides for the fact that the list is continuing to grow, so basically what are we supposed to do or think to fix it, it makes me uncomfortable when we blame others for things. Yes, the gemara says inappropriate judges are the cause of x, y and z. Chilul Shabbos is the cause of a,b, and c. Laxity in issues of tzniyus is the cause of h, i and j. Does that mean it is everyone else's laxity that is causing the problems? Did God want us to inspect everyone else's behavior?
Perhaps we should be less concerned about laying blame at everyone else's doors using the gemara as our proof that it is their fault, and more concerned with figuring out what we, the frum community, the frum people, can do to improve and what lessons we can learn for ourselves from these tragedies. If it is due to inappropriate judges, maybe there is something wrong with the judges we appoint to our batei din, or maybe there is somethign lacking in the level of respect we give to them. Chillul Shabbos - maybe we are lax in certain aspects of chillul shabbos. Tzniyus? bittul torah? you name it and I am surwe we can find ways to apply the issues of laxity to that realm.
Yes, of course the gemara is right that chillul shabbos is the cause, not enough love of the mitzvos and Hashem is the cause, inappropriate judges is the cause, tzniyus and pritzus is the cause. But it is our judge to inspect our ways and behaviors and figure out where to improve, rather than to inspect other people's ways and behaviors.
Labels:
chillul shabbos,
fire,
the blame game
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To paraphrase chazal "tragedies should not be used as spades with which one buries one's opponents."
ReplyDeleteBased on my authority as Leader of the Living, I declare that the recent fires in Israel are the fault of self-righteous rabbis who think they know what caused the recent fires.
ReplyDeleteI agree. However, the gemara lays the groundwork for these kinds of comments by assigning blame for specific historical events, like the fall of Yerushalayim. (Comments which we glibly cite all the time, by the way.)
ReplyDeleteActually the gemara assigns multiple blame in many directions. Similar to all those "kneged kulam" mitzvos. So if someone pays attention they shouldn't make their own pronouncements, or priorities, particularly narrow.
ReplyDeleteBesides improper judges for sure can't be it - they aren't in the Latma video.
Many can play the blame game:
ReplyDeleteWho is to blame for all of the poverty in the Charedi community?
Those who forbid (or at least discourage) people from going to work and/or getting an education.
Who is to blame for all of the molestors in the frum world?
All of the rabbis who care more for the perps than the victims?
Who is to blame for all of the kids who are becoming disenchanted with frumkeit?
All of those who put more emphasis on the color of one's kippa and how many mehadrins are attached to their food rather than accentuating the darcheah darchei noam.
And sadly there are many more!
What Israel needs is to come together. Like what R' Bention Klatzko is doing with his hospitality site Shabbat.com
ReplyDeleteWith unity we are strong B'H
I agree with you - in that most people should not make any such pronouncements.
ReplyDeleteHowever:
1. We also shouldn't judge the Gedolim, they see things differently than people like us (well differently than people like me anyway).
2. In a generation like ours where most people would simply dismiss such things as an accident of nature, something that just happens by itself, it is important for someone to point out that Hashem runs the world, that it is He who causes things like this to happen and for a reason.
3. If a Gadol Hador cannot rebuke the Jewish people (in a way that he sees fit), who can?
The difference is that when Chazal tell of the fall of Jerusalem(mostly think of of the BarKamsa affair) they were pointing the finger as much at themselves as those around them.
ReplyDeleteIf these Gedolim wanted to state that the reasons for the tragedy were x,y, and z and lead the movement of repentance by admitting that they were as much a part of the problem as anyone else... they would have my full support.
"If these Gedolim wanted to state that the reasons for the tragedy were x,y, and z and lead the movement of repentance by admitting that they were as much a part of the problem as anyone else... they would have my full support."
ReplyDeleteAnd if the reason was indeed Chillul Shabbat, what more exactly would you like those Gedolim to do to "encourage" the chilonim to become Shomer Shabbat?
And if the reason was indeed Chillul Shabbat....
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of the Gedolim suggesting "reasons" for the fires would say they are 100% certain about those reasons - similar to the Gedolim offering various promises in the Kupat HaIr ads.