For some reason, when Israel has elections, I feel compelled to reach out to a few friends who have made Aliyah. This week was no different. I reached out to a few of my friends, a Brit and several Americans all of whom are all politically quite savvy and quite cynical. I spoke to them about a week before the elections and then immediately after the returns were finalized. With the results in, it appears at this point that Prime Minister Netanyahu does not have enough support to form a government. Perhaps the most fascinating result of the election was the fact that friends on the political left of the issue of peace and Palestinians and friends on the political right of the issue of peace and the Palestinians were both hopeful that Bibi would not remain Prime Minister. Both pointed out that Bibi has a cynical pattern: increasing tensions with Hamas which allows Bibi to threaten or militarily engage Hamas. My friends explained that this decision to respond militarily is completely justified; both sides point out the fascinating coincidence that tensions and incursion seem to occur around an election. They pointed out that a couple of weeks before this election there was increased tension with Hamas. My friends explained that rising tensions and a military incursion allow Netanyahu to portray himself as “Israel’s Protector”. My friends also pointed out that Bibi tends to make extravagant promises regarding Israel’s security. Approximately a week before the election, Israelis heard President Trump’s talking about a defense treaty with Israel and Netanyahu’s pledged to annex the Jordan Valley. “So”, I asked, “What’s different this time?”
This week's Parsha is Ki Tavoh. For the past several Parshiot, Moshe has been listing and explaining all the precepts and laws. Last week's Parsha and the first part of Ki Tavoh explains the rewards. We will inherit the land; we will keep the land. Our enemies will be rendered weak. We will be fruitful and multiply. However, the second half of the Parshah explains all the curses that would befall us if we neglect to observe these laws. Every curse, of course, is the diametric opposite the previous blessings. So if we were promised bountiful harvests and many children, then our curse will be drought, famine, and bareness. Traditionally, the Aliyot that contain the curses are read in a softer voice. However, as horrible as these curses are, we must understand that it is up to us. We can either follow these laws or not, and as a result, we will bear the consequences of our actions. This is not necessarily a bad lesson for us as well as our children to learn. We are responsible for our actions, and we must bear responsibility for the consequences of those actions.
One of the curses is most poignant given what my friends in Israel were explaining to me regarding cynical and corrupt leadership. Arur Mashgeh Iveir Ba'Derech, Va'Amar Kol Ha'Am Amen - Accursed is one who causes a blind person to go astray on the road. And the entire nation said 'Amen" (Deut 27:18). If we read this literally then we are talking about a guide or a seeing-eye dog that would lead the blind astray. However, this curse is symbolic. We know that the Torah is light and the word Derech (way) is usually in combination with the Way of the Lord (God's Laws). On a metaphorical level, the curse is upon those leaders of a community that causes the less knowledgeable to go astray. If that knowledge causes those who are blind to go astray, then that leader should be cursed. Implicit to that statement is that the one who causes the blind to go astray sees the light, has the knowledge and teaches or guides the community away from God. Our Talmudic Sages offer an Aggadah about the teachers/Rabbis who were the leaders of their communities. "If there are two teachers, one who covers much ground but is not exact, and one who does not cover much ground but is exact, Rav Dimi b. Nehardea maintained that the one who is exact and does not cover much ground is to be appointed. The reason? A mistake once implanted (in the mind or in behavior) remains [a mistake]. (Talmud Baba Batra 21a-b). The Talmudic sages essentially understood the first rule in education. It is terribly difficult to undo that which has already been incorrectly taught.
It appears that the Talmudic Sages also understood quite a bit about Israeli political campaigns as well. My friends, both on the “right” and the “left” explained that at least half of the country has started to see that the Prime Minister takes a cynical approach to campaigning and governance. They explain that at least half of Israel has become aware that he is concerned about remaining in power and avoiding any corruption charges rather than solving the issues that matter to at least half of Israelis. They also sensed that Bibi’s disdain for democratic institutions including the courts, the press, and Israel’s Declaration of Independence had become evidently troubling to many Israelis. My friends all agreed that it doesn’t bode well for a leader of democracy to outwards and cynically express disdain for the very institutions that ought to be defended. Nor does it bode well for a leader of a democracy to divide and weaken the very institutions that make Israel such an incredibly unique and special place. As we hung up, they were all left wondering if there will be a new Prime Minister and if not, hopefully, this Prime Minister received the message transmitted by friends and the rest of the electorate.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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