“When a man or a woman shall commit any sin, to commit a trespass against the Lord…” (Bemidbar 5:6)
This passage has been taken to mean that a sin committed by one human being against another human being is also considered to be a sin against God. Laws governing interpersonal relationships are essential elements in our religious tradition. They are not less important–and may in fact be more important–than laws governing our ritual relationship with the Almighty. It is not possible to be “religious” if one is not honest, kind, compassionate and considerate of fellow human beings. It is fashionable today to refer to a “religious” Jew as a “shomer Shabbat”. While being a Sabbath observer is a wonderful virtue, it does not in itself testify to a person’s religiosity. If a person observes Shabbat but is dishonest and disrespectful and cruel–such a person is surely not an exemplar of Torah Judaism.
The medieval Italian Jewish biblical commentator, Rabbi Obadia Seforno, cites a midrashic passage that refers this verse specifically to the sin of oppressing a proselyte. One who betrays the trust of a convert to Judaism is committing a sin not only against the convert, but against God. The Seforno writes that one who steals from a proselyte desecrates God’s name. The proselyte, who chose to become Jewish and to live “under the wings of the Divine Presence”, will become disillusioned by being mistreated by those who claim to follow the ways of Torah. The oppressor of the proselyte hurts the victim: but also undermines God’s good name as Author of a righteous and compassionate Torah.
A basic characteristic of a religious Jew must be a loving, compassionate and respectful attitude toward those non-Jews who have chosen to become Jewish, who have sacrificed much to join our people, who have accepted upon themselves the obligations of our Torah. How deeply saddening it is to read of rabbinic courts that harass would-be proselytes, who treat them with disrespect, who delay the conversion procedures unnecessarily, who create ever-more stringencies to block the way of proselytes. How profoundly anti-religious are those “rabbis” who invalidate–or call into question–even the conversions of those who were converted under the auspices of responsible halakhic Orthodox rabbis. The sins against the would-be proselytes and against the proselytes are incalculable: but these sins are also sins against God. They profane His name, and undermine the loving teachings of God’s Torah.
In the current issue of Conversations, the journal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, we have included an article (anonymously) by a long-standing Orthodox convert. She describes poignantly some of the sufferings and indignities she has had to face over the years. (Her article is now also posted as the feature article on our website: jewishideas.org) The story she tells could be repeated, with variations of details, by a great many other Orthodox converts to Judaism. The sad truth is that things are becoming worse for converts, rather than better. The sad truth is that the Orthodox rabbinical establishment is part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. The sad truth is that many members of our community really don’t care about this issue, or are not sufficiently sensitive to the feelings of converts and would-be converts.
It is time–well past time–that our community take responsibililty for developing attitudes and policies that are halakhically appropriate, compassionate and inclusive. It is time–well past time–to insist that the Orthodox rabbinic establishment (starting with the rabbis of our own congregations) take the lead in this process.
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It is really amazing how much calumny is aimed against the Jewish people. The basest lies are spread against us; the vilest charges are leveled against Israel. No matter what we do or how good we really are, it seems we are destined to be villified. Terrorists aim their missiles and bombs against innocent Israelis and Jews: no comments are forthcoming from the world’s leaders–and certainly no action in our defense. Yet, when Israel strikes back at its enemies, it is immediately accused of “war crimes”, and rallies are called throughout the world to condemn Israel. Other countries can engage in all sorts of immoral, illegal and ruthless behavior; they can persecute minorities, restrict freedoms, murder their enemies: no one seems to care. But if Israel makes even one real or imagined mis-step, she is condemned by the U.N. and smeared in the media. Why is this so?
A midrash relates that God offered the Torah to the various nations of the world, before offering it to Israel. But when the nations learned that the Torah forbade murder, adultery, and theft, they rejected the Torah. They did not want to be bound by the lofty morals that the Torah commanded. When God offered the Torah to Israel, the Israelites accepted it: We will fulfill it, we will listen to its teachings.
This midrash, I believe, is teaching us what is at the root of anti-Semitism. The Israelites, by accepting the Torah, became the conscience of humanity. We represented (and still represent) God’s commandments to the world–commandments of justice, mercy, kindness, righteousness. Whether we like it or not, we are humanity’s conscience, a constant reminder that all human beings are ultimately answerable to God, that evil will not go unpunished, that immorality is an affront to humankind and to God.
Humanity does not want a moral conscience. It does not like to be reminded of its responsibilities and shortcomings. It does not want to accept the prohibitions of murder, adultery, robbery and so much more.
But the Jewish people are humanity’s conscience. And humanity resents us for that reason. It doesn’t even matter what we do or don’t do; whether we live up to the Torah or don’t live up to it. As far as the world is concerned, we are God’s agents on earth–and they don’t want to hear God’s commandments and they take it out on us. They unceasingly strive to find fault with us, and to exaggerate our sins: they do this as if to say: you are no better than we are; in fact, you are worse than we are; we don’t need to listen to you; we don’t want you to be our conscience; we don’t want to be reminded about God’s justice and righteousness.
Hatred for Jews is really a transference: in essence it is the anti-Semites’ hatred of themselves and of their own wickedness. Whatever they say about us is a projection of their own self-image. As long as there is anti-Semitism in the world, humanity cannot be redeemed. It cannot face its own moral turpitude and cannot turn in repentance. As long as the Jew-haters devote energy to wiping out humanity’s moral conscience, humanity remains in a mode of self-destruction.
Our rabbis noted long ago the similarity in sound between the word Sinai (representing the Torah and moral code given at Mt. Sinai) and the word “sinah”, hatred. Every human being has to make a choice as to which side to cast his/her lot. As we observe Shabuoth, the anniversary of our receiving the Torah at Sinai, we need to remind ourselves and the entire world that the word of God will rule, that justice and righteousness will prevail, that evil will be punished and crushed out. Those who are for Sinai will ultimately be blessed. They are the foundations of civilization. Those who are for “sinah”, hatred, are not only the enemies of God and humanity; they are their own worst enemies. They condemn themselves to a life of ugliness and cruelty, when a life of blessing and happiness is so easily available to them.
When the nations of the world will join the Israelites to hear God’s voice at Sinai, humanity will enter a new and glorious phase. Shabuoth is approaching. Let us and all humanity approach Sinai.
* * * The Angel for Shabbat column is presented as a service of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Please visit our website, jewishideas.org, and become part of our growing community of members.
Rabbi Angel is the Rabbi of the Oldest Sephardic Synagogue in the United States–for more information contact him by clicking unto his name or go to www.jewishideas.org
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06 23rd, 2009| 
