I was riding the Light Rail in Yerushalayim. The train passes through the Arab community of Shuafat, which looks like Damascus or Baghdad. Basically, everyone who boards the train in Shuafat is an Arab.
At one of the stations in Shuafat, a huge man boarded the train. He sat down next to me; he was so big that he squashed me against the window. Then he turned and apologized (because he knew he was squashing me). The last thing I expected was an apology! But the surprises were not over. As my station approached, he looked at me again and put his finger to his lips. Then he whispered in my ear, “My mother is a Jew! My father is an Arab and that is why I speak Arabic. But in my heart I am a Jew!”
Can you imagine this! I gave him blessings and told him, “Moshiach is coming soon.” Then I wished him well and left the train. My heart was pounding.
My friends, do you understand this? I want to say that the imminence of the Geulah Shelemah is palpable in the world. There are two parallel phenomena: on one hand, the forces of evil are attacking kedusha. The Jewish People, as Hashem’s representatives, are being harassed on every level.
Yet, at the same time, more and more people are seeking Hashem. Recently, a prominent American rabbi told my friend that he had never before seen so many non-Jews seeking to convert! And, on a train, an “Arab” approaches a complete stranger and tells him that he is a Jew!
At this time of ferment, as we approach Tisha b’Av – the day when sinas chinom caused the destruction of Bayis Shaini– I would like to examine a matter of derech eretz, namely how we are supposed to relate to each other. Let’s cite some sources.
“Who is destined for a share in the World to Come? One who is modest and humble, who enters bowing and leaves bowing, who learns Torah constantly but doesn’t take credit for himself.” (Sanhedrin 88b) This is how we are to behave! This is an entire lifestyle! The nations of the world say, “I am Number One,” but that is the opposite of the Torah way. We are – lehavdil -- to go out of our way to excel in humility and gentleness.
What words do we say every night before we go to sleep? “Ribono shel Olam … Master of the Universe, I hereby forgive anyone who angered or antagonized me or who sinned against me,” followed by a long list of every situation in which this can occur. Hashem wants each day to conclude with total peace among all His Children!
At the end of every Shemoneh Esreh we say, “To those who curse me, let my soul be silent, and let my soul be like dust to everyone.” We are called upon to nullify our egos in order to create harmony. This is not optional! This is halacha!
But, according to the Ari Hakodesh, we are not even allowed to begin Shemoneh Esreh without accepting upon ourselves the mitzvah to love every Jew as we love ourselves! In other words, we cannot ask for anything from Hashem before we elevate ourselves to the level where we feel totally united with our brothers and sisters!
The Chofetz Chaim zt”l quotes Tanna D’vei Eliyahu: “So said Hashem to the Jewish People: My Beloved Children … What is it that I ask of you? Only that you love each other and honor one another and respect one another!” (Shmiras ha Loshon)
My friends, I really wonder how any thinking Jew can fight with another Jew, or imagine that another Jew is – chas v’Shalom – on a lower madreiga than he is! I understand that we are all human, but we have to know that this catastrophic attitude is the root of all our troubles! We went into Egyptian slavery because the brothers fought with Yosef! Bayis Shaini was destroyed because of sinas chinom!
Enough! When will we wake up? I have to train myself to love my fellow Yid. So it is difficult! So it goes against the grain! What are we doing in this world if we fail to remake ourselves in the image which Hashem desires?
We have already dwelt too long in the “Valley of weeping!” (Lecha Dodi) We can save ourselves! “Uri, Uri Shir Dabairi … Wake up! Wake Up! It is time to sing a new song!”
Let the Great Shabbos dawn upon us! It is within our power to bring this about!
GLOSSARY
Bayis Shaini: the Second Temple
Geulah Shelemah: The Final Redemption
Derech Eretz: proper behavior
Kedusha: sanctity
Lehavdil: to distinguish between two opposite things
Madreiga: spiritual level
Shemoneh Esreh: the central prayer of each prayer service
Sinas Chinom: unwarranted hatred among the Jewish People
Tisha B’Av: Ninth day of the month of Av, the day on which both Temples were destroyed
