Kahane on the Parsha
Rabbi Binyamin Kahane –
Parsha Bo
He’ll Pay For That Grin
Whenever an act of “Jewish terror” occurs, such as Baruch
Goldstein’s shooting in Me’arat Ha’Maclpela, the question of collective
punishment returns to the national agenda, and of course the concept is
promptly denounced by secular and religious Jews alike.
In Parsha Bo, collective punishment plays a prominent
role, as we read of all the Egyptians, without distinction, being smitten by
the plagues. But why does G-d punish
everyone? Why not just punish the “bad
guys”? Indeed, our rabbis ask the very
same question. On the verse, “And the
L-rd smote all the firstborn in the Land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh
who sat on the throne to the firstborn of the prisoners who was in the dungeon:
(Exodus 12:29), the Rabbis ask: “What
sin did the prisoners commit?” After
all, they themselves were themselves were captives in Egypt. The Rabbis answer: “Because they were happy
with the decrees Pharaoh inflicted upon Israel” (Tanchuma, Bo 7).
With this comment, the Rabbis teach us the proper attitude
toward a nation which collectively harms the Jewish people. They teach us that not only should the
specific individuals who terrorize Jews be punished, but the entire nation –
even its least significant member – should suffer since the country’s policies
please all of them.
This rule is codified in Jewish law (see Rambam, Hilchot
Ratzeacg U’Shmirat Nefesh 4:11 with the Kesef Mishmah’s commentary and Yo’re De’ah 158:1 with
the Shach’s commentary), which determines that in time of war, one kills
anyone who is part of the enemy nation.
The aforementioned Midrash makes clear the rationale behind the
law. When a nation fights us there are
no “innocents.” There are some who fight
in the front and some in the back. But
they are all in it together. The very
fact that their hearts rejoice when Jews are killed or maimed (we won’t even
discuss those who give cover) is enough for them to be considered soldiers
fighting on the front lines, according to halachic
Every time a suicide bomb explodes in Israel, the Arab
street erupts into spontaneous celebration.
The solidarity of the people with their “martyrs” is plain for all to
see. Indeed, when the “engineer” Yahya
Ayyash was killed earlier this month, there was mass mourning among the “Palestinian
people.” Even Palestinian Authority
officials could not restrain themselves as they shot 21 bullets while their
great hero was being eulogized. Certainly
this tells us where the hearts and hopes of the Arab masses lie.
In light of such facts, do not the worlds of our Rabbis
resonate today – especially if we alter their words just slightly: “Because
they were happy with all the bombs planted against Israel. . .”?
In conclusion, when a terrorist attack against Jews is
viewed by Arabs as a patriotic act of the first order, there is no room for
pity – not even on the so-called innocent ones.
Such mercy will only lead to cruelty against the merciful, as the Rabbis
warned us
Written in Darka shel Torah 1996
If you do
not personally receive the weekly articles written by Rabbi Meir Kahane and/ or
his son Rabbi Binyamin Kahane and would like to, please contact me at:
To view
articles written by Rabbi Meir Kahane and Rabbi Binyamin Kahane go to blog:
Newly published “Kahane on the Parsha” can be bought
at the following links on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kahane-Parsha-Meir/dp/098867680X ,
it's also available on website, www.BrennBooks.com
To view Rabbi
Meir Kahane site of YouTube, Videos. CDs posted by Michael Miller go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/bayitvegan
Rebbitzen Libby Kahane is happy to announce
that the second volume, “Rabbi Meir Kahane: His Life and Thought, 1983-1976” is
available on Amazon.com. The book comes up immediately when you type
into the main search box: Meir Kahane Life 1976
Rabbi
Meir Kahane: His Life and Thought, 1976-1983” (volume 2), has been published.
and now available in Israel. Can be bought from Yeshivat Haraayon Hayehudi (02-5823540)
and from Pomeranz Books (02-6235559). Cost of book 88 NIS
Facebook
Links:
Michael
ben-Ari- Jewish Strength:
Barbara
Ginsberg – Do search
No comments:
Post a Comment