The REAL Toeva
The balagan is over for now; the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem was canceled last week because of the security situation and replaced with a mass rally. I don't know if the hareidi "March of Beasts" was also cancelled or if it went on as scheduled.
But much damage has been done; and it will potentially recur in the future...so we need to understand what really went on and what the REAL toeva is.
I have already spoken about homosexuality; I pointed out there that even with the 5 books of the Torah there are other things, sins between man and man, ALSO described as toeva ("abomination") as is homosexuality. I have also spoken about the fact that God judges us frum people much more strictly than he does those that are less knowledgeable.
I have also spoken (although I shouldn't have to) about the concept of Chillul Hashem b'farhesia, the public profanation of God's name, but it often seems that we just don't get it. The world is watching us...and what they see determines whether they think of us as an Am Kadosh...or as a gutter religion.
Recent events have swung the balance way over towards the gutter.
That we oppose homosexuality is fine; that we complain that the marchers often seem more interested in mocking us than in their own pride is also fine. If we protest quitely, peacefully, and with dignity, few rational people have a problem with that.
That is NOT what has been happening. There has been rioting and wanton destruction. The world sees scenes that are little different from the race riots in America in the 60's, or than the Moslems riots in France and elsewhere a few short months ago. I was in Geula during the week; with the trash on the streets and the smashed and burned-out bus shelters, I indeed thought I was back in 60's Harlem.
Then there were the open calls for violence. Some people were calling for there to be attacks on participants in the parade; just as at last year's parade one hareidi man stabbed several people. Even though it is true that under a Torah society homosexuality is a death penaly offense, it MUST be administered by a properly sanctioned Bet Din with all of the rules of Halacha applied. MOB VIOLENCE IS NOT A PART OF TORAH! Those who compare any of these actions to Pinchas when he killed Zimri and Kosbi, or those who compare it to Matityahu at the beginning of the Chanuka rebellion, understand neither of those stories.
But wait, you tell me. It was only a small minority, Satmar and Neturei Karta types, that advocated the violence. Maybe so, but it is much more shocking to me, based on my conversations during the week with many people, how many others either approved, or were indifferent! Not just hareidi, but dati leumi as well! After all, it finally helped to stop the parade, didn't it? Such a "toeva" has to be stopped at all costs, right?
Wrong.
We have stooped to a new low in our attempts to stop this parade. We have lost sight of what is important, and we have Profaned God's name in front of the entire world.
For all the fact that homosexuality is a toeva, it is still between man and God; there are worse aveirot going on, between man and man, every day WITHIN the frum community, including toevot, since, as I pointed out, Devarim 25:16 says that cheating at business is ALSO a toeva. How can we point fingers when we are covered in shmootz ourselves?
It is appropriate that the hareidi community planned a "march of beasts" for the same day as the parade. Because WE ARE ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF BEHEIMOS!
There is a reason for everything. We complain that allowing such a parade in Yerushalaim Ir HaKodesh defiles the city. But perhaps the real truth is that we, the Am Kadosh, are the ones who have defiled the city, leaving it ripe for such activites!
WE HAVE BECOME TOEVA! The parade is just a symptom of the corruption we have caused by not truly following the ways of Hashem.
Let us stop attacking the gays and others who stray. If we clean up our own act, if we set the proper example as a truly Holy Nation, the next parade will never happen and we can pave the way for Mashiach.
But much damage has been done; and it will potentially recur in the future...so we need to understand what really went on and what the REAL toeva is.
I have already spoken about homosexuality; I pointed out there that even with the 5 books of the Torah there are other things, sins between man and man, ALSO described as toeva ("abomination") as is homosexuality. I have also spoken about the fact that God judges us frum people much more strictly than he does those that are less knowledgeable.
I have also spoken (although I shouldn't have to) about the concept of Chillul Hashem b'farhesia, the public profanation of God's name, but it often seems that we just don't get it. The world is watching us...and what they see determines whether they think of us as an Am Kadosh...or as a gutter religion.
Recent events have swung the balance way over towards the gutter.
That we oppose homosexuality is fine; that we complain that the marchers often seem more interested in mocking us than in their own pride is also fine. If we protest quitely, peacefully, and with dignity, few rational people have a problem with that.
That is NOT what has been happening. There has been rioting and wanton destruction. The world sees scenes that are little different from the race riots in America in the 60's, or than the Moslems riots in France and elsewhere a few short months ago. I was in Geula during the week; with the trash on the streets and the smashed and burned-out bus shelters, I indeed thought I was back in 60's Harlem.
Then there were the open calls for violence. Some people were calling for there to be attacks on participants in the parade; just as at last year's parade one hareidi man stabbed several people. Even though it is true that under a Torah society homosexuality is a death penaly offense, it MUST be administered by a properly sanctioned Bet Din with all of the rules of Halacha applied. MOB VIOLENCE IS NOT A PART OF TORAH! Those who compare any of these actions to Pinchas when he killed Zimri and Kosbi, or those who compare it to Matityahu at the beginning of the Chanuka rebellion, understand neither of those stories.
But wait, you tell me. It was only a small minority, Satmar and Neturei Karta types, that advocated the violence. Maybe so, but it is much more shocking to me, based on my conversations during the week with many people, how many others either approved, or were indifferent! Not just hareidi, but dati leumi as well! After all, it finally helped to stop the parade, didn't it? Such a "toeva" has to be stopped at all costs, right?
Wrong.
We have stooped to a new low in our attempts to stop this parade. We have lost sight of what is important, and we have Profaned God's name in front of the entire world.
For all the fact that homosexuality is a toeva, it is still between man and God; there are worse aveirot going on, between man and man, every day WITHIN the frum community, including toevot, since, as I pointed out, Devarim 25:16 says that cheating at business is ALSO a toeva. How can we point fingers when we are covered in shmootz ourselves?
It is appropriate that the hareidi community planned a "march of beasts" for the same day as the parade. Because WE ARE ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF BEHEIMOS!
There is a reason for everything. We complain that allowing such a parade in Yerushalaim Ir HaKodesh defiles the city. But perhaps the real truth is that we, the Am Kadosh, are the ones who have defiled the city, leaving it ripe for such activites!
WE HAVE BECOME TOEVA! The parade is just a symptom of the corruption we have caused by not truly following the ways of Hashem.
Let us stop attacking the gays and others who stray. If we clean up our own act, if we set the proper example as a truly Holy Nation, the next parade will never happen and we can pave the way for Mashiach.
posted by meturgeman | 2:15 AM
