I was listening to a prerecorded shiur by Rav Zweig of Miami and had to listen carefully to some words I didn't hear accurately -- it almost sounded like he said that the arabs need Zionism...
The Rav was in fact saying that all the gentiles need the Zayin Mitzvos.
I wonder if a small part of the antisemitic hatred in the world which is often self-described as against zionism in recent decades, is part of a low level reaction to this stretch of the imagination or misunderstanding?
To the degree that 7 represents kingship (drush from Rav Naiman of Baltimore explaning Lemech-1 -- 7 ushpizin visitors, 7 wraps of tefillin, 7 days for Shabbos, and a preponderance of 7's in the parsha near both Lemech's)...
Perhaps part of the inexplicable hatred of Zion in the world is connected with the nations' rebellion against the 7 Noachide laws, which are described as zayin mitzvos?
Are there any other examples of a simple verbal misunderstanding being blown all out of proportion and resulting in such a hateful lashing out?
Posts: 897 | Location: USA | Registered: May 30, 2004
It's been said that Jews get into trouble when they try to be like Goyim. If Jews just did their job "to be a light unto the Goyim", the Goyim would love them for it. The state of Israel is a quintessential example of the Jew who hates to be a Jew. On a spiritual-mystical level, the Goyim see this and react. If the Jew hates being Jewish why should the Goy love the Jew. Much of our problem today is that we Jews (as a community) are not true to the brit. This also deprives the Goyim because they feed off our light. If we hide that light we starve the Goyim of that light.
Posts: 901 | Location: Olam Haze | Registered: October 20, 2005
Much of our problem today is that we Jews (as a community) are not true to the brit. This also deprives the Goyim because they feed off our light. If we hide that light we starve the Goyim of that light.
The bit above that I took out of your post, Moshe, got my special attention. I'm doing some thinking about that and will be for some time.
The anti-Jew thing has long bothered me and I have had a long standing interest in trying to understand it. Without realising it I know I have absorbed a real fear from my family (my grandmother in particular, I think) about being "visible". I guess that is understandable. By now I have a few ideas about the whys of anti-semitism, the usual ones, but they never really satisfied me. What you said in the quote could be right, but I'm not sure as yet. I don't rush into these things.
I think that, to accept your theory, I'd have to be able to see it applied to concrete examples. But I can actually think of one and it counts as support for your theory. There is a person, a goy, who I have known for a long time and who is quite without religion. This person doesn't even believe in G-d. Now this person is a very critical and controlling sort of person and I am forever needing to deal with this coming from that person, aimed right at me in no uncertain terms. But I have always been a very determinedly religious and spiritual person and do most definitely believe in G-d. And I have always put a lot of time and effort into my religious concerns. It has always puzzeled me as to why this person has never levelled the smallest criticism at me regarding my religious endeavours. Could it be that you have given me the answer? I still can't quite "get" the process of why yet though, ie of how it gives them what they need.
Posts: 334 | Location: Australia | Registered: August 29, 2004
I think there are so many concrete examples of how the more we act like Goyim, the more they hate us. Our forefathers went to Mitsrayim to survive a famine, they stayed because of material success. Because we didn't return to Eretzenu they came to hate us.
When we came into our land, the more we worshipped H' the more the Goyyim made peace with us. Shlom Ha-Melekh reighned for forty years of peace. The peace agreements he signed with other nations allowed for the building of the Beit- ha Mikdash. Read the books Melekhim Aleph and Bet. The more idolatry the more tsuris we had with the goyyim.
As we approach Purim, let us remember that the midrash teaches that the opening of the Megilla with the lavish description of the King Achashveros' party was to let us khow that the sin we were being punished for was joining in that party. I also remember a Midrash that there were Jew's stunned to read Haman's decree because thaey had (almost) forgotten that they were Jews.
In more recent history, it is said that the Jew's of Germany had rally's calling Berlin the "New Jerusalem" prior to the rise of the cursed ones. Germany was also the center of reform movement, I believe.
And we here in Israel, the more we negotiate and try to be just "one of the family of Nations" the more we are attacked politically and with terrorism.
Please, anybody, feel free to fill in details or correct any factual inaccuracies in this posting.
-Jake
Posts: 34 | Location: Jerusalem, Israel | Registered: September 06, 2005
Originally posted by rob: I was listening to a prerecorded shiur by Rav Zweig of Miami and had to listen carefully to some words I didn't hear accurately -- it almost sounded like he said that the arabs need Zionism...
The Rav was in fact saying that all the gentiles need the Zayin Mitzvos.
Are there any other examples of a simple verbal misunderstanding being blown all out of proportion and resulting in such a hateful lashing out?
I think you're right on this one. People frequently get in fights over words that sound similar instead of asking for clarification. I can't think of any distinct examples, but this is why I pronounce zayin with a long 'a' as in 'play' even though people constantly correct me. Another reason was the confusion in my own children's eyes when I would say zayin with a long 'i'. They also confused zayin with zion or tziyone.
If you want a good English example of what you just described, go to the Mussar room under "Yetzer H-Ra and my 10 year old daughter Yemina". I just went through that with Raybin. I am an English major and I still get amazed at what is lost in translation, and people react without understanding the line of communication. Oy Vey
Posts: 700 | Location: TEXAS, USA | Registered: May 31, 2006
Raybin, You were making points, yes, but based upon hallucinated facts. You consistently misquote and judge me. You said my daughter was hungry. YOU weren't there. Dinner was served after her yelling temper tantrum that lasted four hours. Ending at DINNER TIME. She started her fit over a toy that wasn't hers RIGHT AFTER LUNCH, do the math, how much time is there between meals?? HOW COULD SHE HAVE BEEN HUNGRY AFTER SHE JUST ATE MINUTES BEFORE? Like I said, READ, DON'T SCAN. And certainly don't place words in my mouth or judge an event you weren't there to witness, and don't even read the facts on. Moreover, it wasn't even written to you, it was in response to someone's question to me.
Like I said, let's just agree to disagree. I think we should dissolve this relationship, it isn't healthy. Good luck with you and yours.
Yocheved
Posts: 700 | Location: TEXAS, USA | Registered: May 31, 2006
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