Shabbat Chazon, Parashat D'varim Av 3rd 5769

The Shabbat preceding the 9th of Av is called Shabbat Chazon, or the Shabbat of the Vision. The Haftara which we read this week opens as follows; "The vision of Isaiah, son of Amotz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem." This Haftara is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha Be'Av, as this vision describes the destruction of Jerusalem in horrifying detail.

Last year, I wrote in Shalom from Jerusalem, that I had difficulty feeling the connection to the destruction of Jerusalem. I walk around the city, watching as it grows bigger and more prosperous every day. Hundreds of new buildings are under construction, from luxury homes to shopping malls to new museums and tourist attractions. The real estate market has never before been so high. This is hardly a vision of destruction and desolation!

This year however, I do see the elements of sorrow and disintegration. Our sages tell us that the ultimate reason for the destruction, was that the people indulged in "sinat chinam," which is translated as baseless hatred. (This particular translation never made much sense to me, because it implies that there was no basis or reason for the hatred. Unfortunately, we do know that people can hate each other. Whether we agree or disagree with the reason for it, the fact is that it was reason enough to create the hatred. Instead, I tend to think that people need to understand that whatever their grievances, such hatred of a brother is never justified. More often, people were very quick to hate one another, rather than trying to understand and see things from a different perspective.) I think that during the past week, we have been witness to sinat chinam in Jerusalem. I fear that we have not learned a thing.

For those who missed the banner headlines, the number one story in the news this week was about the riots in the Haredi neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Dozens of Chassidim and police officers were injured, and there was tremendous damage to property, most of which was city owned. The riots were sparked by the arrest of a Chassidic young mother, suspected of starving her infant son. The baby was treated in the hospital, and shortly thereafter, the doctors became suspicious when they noticed a pattern of the child being in distress and having a medical crisis whenever the mother was present. Child welfare services started to investigate and together with the police, they decided to arrest the mother. When the authorities claimed that the mother was dangerous and harming her own child, the entire Haredi community united against the police, child welfare services, and the hospital, due to the "lies" that they were spreading. Several volatile elements combined, provoking a severe reaction, bringing hundreds out to the streets, creating disorder, disturbing the peace, causing violence and major vandalism.
First, many of the Haredim were already angry and irritated with the city government and the authorities, and this upheaval was just the culmination of long time frustration boiling over. Second, most of the protestors were yeshiva students, now on vacation. Third, the Haredi public listens and believes only that which that comes directly from the Haredi world; their leaders said that the police harassed the woman for no reason. The ads and street signs in their neighborhoods echoed these sentiments. In the eyes of their followers, this was absolute truth. Fourth, for the Haredi public, it is inconceivable that anyone in their community, believing in the values of sanctity of life and family could or would do such a thing. By denying the existence of such behavior, or the commission of such crime, they can remain in their comfort zone, and allow themselves to believe that only "others" are capable of such heinous acts.
The end of the story is that the woman is now under house arrest and she is being examined to determine whether or not she is mentally ill.

Clearly, the situation spiraled out of control, and there is more than enough blame to go around. Not one group, nor one person, is to blame. Perhaps more sensitive solutions, such as house arrest, or crisis intervention, should have been considered from the beginning. Many believe that certain forces inside the police wanted to put the Haredim in their place, and remind them about who was really in control.

The anger toward the police was unwarranted. The violent rampage was inexcusable. Everyone overreacted. Sad to say, sinat chinam is still very much with us.

We are approaching the 9th of Av, the day our Holy Temple was burned and destroyed. The ramifications of the tragedies of that day, 2000 years ago, live on. We still suffer from the effects of sinat chinam, baseless hatred. Will the commemoration of Tisha Be'Av make us think twice before we act? And reconsider the way we act, and the way we treat our fellow man?

I wish everyone in the Agudath Sholom community, a meaningful fast and a significant and introspective Tisha Be'Av. And I'm looking forward to seeing you all in shul next week.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem,

Arik Wollheim