In good times, deals are closed, contracts are signed, ministers, deputy ministers, and committee chairmen are elected, and the new government will soon set out on its new path.
I pray that this time the ultra-Orthodox factions will have the wisdom to sanctify the name of God, to act with caution and obligatory modesty, as our ancestors and forefathers have done throughout history.
The general press is full of incitement and hatred of Haredim following the 'achievements,' and I wonder what happened to that modesty and walking on the side of the road that so characterized us as Haredim.
The prominence and pride do not serve us. The presentation of huge headlines in one of the weekend newspapers in the Haredi media, such as "The Gate of Victory", do not serve us. They only add fuel to the burning fire of incitement, which has not been extinguished since the Haredi 'victory' in the elections...
A little modesty won't hurt. And a lot of unity will only help.
It's not just about the Knesset members, their aides and spokespeople. It's also about the Haredi press, written, broadcast and digital, which has gone out of its way to highlight the achievements, while ignoring the external implications.
The wisest of all men said this long ago: "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.".
Joy for Eid is not part of the characteristics of a God-fearing Jew, who prides himself on being the one who continues the order of generations of the Jewish people.
This week I listened to an interview on a Haredi radio station. The interviewee was Yair Lapid, the former Minister of Finance. The interviewer complained that he had not "earned" to interview him for two years, and even added how happy Lapid was that he was "former." For what? What business do we have of adding salt to the wounds? Since when do we take revenge and observe?
It is true that the interviewer expressed in his words the frustration and anger over two years of abuse of the Haredi public. It is true that he expressed the feelings of the majority of the public.
But what is the point of the stings? Why stoop so low? This is the advice of instinct.
The instinct that tries to drag us into the abyss of hatred and revenge.
To warn and to shine
Next week will be Pesach Shani.
That day that teaches us that nothing is lost in the world. Even when it seems like there is no chance, there is hope. Which reminds me of the atmosphere during the previous government's term. Those impure people who could not keep Passover on its due date did not despair. They demanded that they be given a second due date, and... they received it.
God accepted their request and thanks to them we have a second Passover and an idea for generations. Determination wins. There is a second chance!
This week's torah begins with the words "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and you shall tell them." Rashi on Atar cites the Gemara and explains why it is written both "Speak" and "You shall tell them": "Let the elders warn the little ones." From this, the Sages learned the commandment of education.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe clarifies Rashi's words and explains the meaning of the word "to warn," which is not only from the word "warn," but also from the word "light." To warn the great about the little ones. The great have the duty to bring out their own light, their own light, from the little ones.
Which brings me to the importance of the education portfolio, but that already belongs in the previous section - the political one...
I am involved in accompanying women to personal and financial success. And I find in this verse and this teaching the power to empower other women on their path to finding a livelihood that will allow them to maintain a home of Torah and fear of God.
Every time I study this week's Torah, I am reminded that this is what we are tasked with – to bring brightness – to illuminate the positive points in others.
Each of us is good at something. I am amazed every time when the woman sitting in front of me begins to shine and bring out all of her strengths. All of the things she is good at.
Apply pressure
With your permission, I will return again to the matter of the second Pesach, which will take place next week. It is clear that someone who was negligent on the date of the first Pesach sacrifice deserves to be given a second chance, but shouldn't someone who was negligent and didn't take advantage of the first opportunity be given another chance, a second time?
The Rebbe learns from the Torah's teaching, especially: What if a handful of people who missed an opportunity to fulfill such a lofty mitzvah applied pressure and were granted a second chance, all the more so that all of Israel, who miss out on the entire work of sacrifice because the Temple was not built in their day, should apply pressure on the Creator of the world to send our righteous Messiah and build the Temple, in order to receive a second chance to fulfill the mitzvah.
The Rebbe wants us to bring redemption into our lives even in the darkness of exile. That we add the Alufu Shel Olam, the Ahluf, into the word exile so that it becomes redemption. That we proclaim everywhere the fact that there is a Creator in the world and that we make the world a place worthy of the inspiration of the Shekhinah.
Thus, in this way, we will apply pressure, such as the pressure exerted by that group that did not "keep the Passover" on time, and we will merit the building of the Temple and its establishment in us, "and the priests will return to their service, and the Levites to their song and their chant, and Israel will return to their feasts," in the true and complete redemption, immediately and truly.
• Part of the column is based on the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe | The writer is the owner of "My Choice", an event host, lecturer, and radio broadcaster. | For comments: [email protected]
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
