1.
A little less than a month ago, I spoke in the Knesset. Not in the plenary, where only Knesset members speak (you know, those disadvantaged people, with the worst employment conditions in the economy: they only go home from work in the early morning), but in one of the committee halls. It was as part of a special conference on silencing Facebook and Twitter, organized by MK Galit Distel-Etberian. I was invited there after Facebook blocked the post with my column.
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""Next Sunday, the fast of the 17th of Tammuz will begin," I said there. "Which means we are entering the sad period of the days between the Egyptians, the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av. And I have a feeling that this year in particular, we will hear a lot of speeches, talk, and warnings from 'free hate' in this house. I suggest that we all not get confused.
""Because just as in recent weeks there were members of Knesset here who bore the name of 'unity' and 'reconciliation' in vain, and in the name of which they established a government that excludes and boycotts large parts of the people of Israel, I am sure that those same people will also bear the name of warnings against 'free hatred' in vain. No, not every deep ideological disagreement is free hatred, not every word of criticism, or status of criticism, is incitement.".
""Let it be clear: The greatest danger to the State of Israel right now is not a political assassination (of course, assuming that this time the Shin Bet is properly guarding the Prime Minister). The real - and immediate - danger is the silencing and delegitimization of anyone who dares to oppose this dangerous government, and turning them into a person with murderous potential. So thank you very much, members of Knesset, for bringing this important issue to the agenda. We need to think about how social networks, which are today more powerful than states, will still be monitored in a sensible way. And I wish we could speak freely, and listen freely, even to people who don't think like us.
""And finally: Religious Zionists like to quote the sentence attributed to Rabbi Kook, 'It is better to fail in free love than in free hatred!' A charming sentence. There used to be even stickers like this on cars. But today I say: 'It is better to fail in free speech for nothing, than to shut up those who do not think exactly like us – for nothing!'".
2.
That's it. I prayed Mincha in the lovely Knesset synagogue, spoke with a few MKs and parliamentary assistants, and went home. The words sank into the Knesset's annals. Almost a month has passed since then, as mentioned, and suddenly this week I remembered that prophecy.
The truth? Even I am surprised at how widely, manipulatively and inelegantly things have been played out. It is not just the gratuitous use of "gratuitous hatred". Note the amount of cynical references to the legends of destruction to delegitimize the government’s opponents. They are all barn burners, they are all Yochanan of Gush Halav, they are all guilty, except for the one who formed a government with the enemies of Israel. When Av Rabin comes in accusing everyone who does not support the left coalition, the Arabs and Bennett – of burning the house of our God.
And it's not just this year. So often the seemingly beautiful words against gratuitous hatred come from beautiful people who are sure that all the truth and justice are in their pocket, and everyone else is a dangerous charlatan.
When I was a child, the big star of the Tisha B'Av television broadcasts was MK Avrom Borg. He was literally the presenter of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza. It is even possible that it was from him that I first heard the story of the destruction in detail, as well as the precise conclusions that emerged from it. He never stopped warning viewers at home about fanaticism, zealots, and other people who were not Avrom Borg.
A few years have passed since then. Borg switched sides in the fight over the Temple and became a proud Greek (this shocking definition is not mine, but his own). And me? I have become suspicious of anyone who speaks with such hatred of others against hatred of others.
When someone smiles a righteous smile at the camera and speaks in a soft, inclusive voice about unity, we need to examine their motives, their agenda, and their interests. Another thing worth examining: Who has any interest in constantly marketing to us, through the media, the feeling that we are in a civil war and that soon our country will be destroyed and our home destroyed?
Thank God, we are not in a civil war and the house is not destroyed. On the contrary, the country is developing and prospering. Different ethnic groups and sectors live here in harmony, and the fierce (and legitimate!) political dispute does not turn into street fights. On the contrary, anyone who silences it with claims of "free hatred" is likely to cause people frustration that could, God forbid, lead to violence.
It seems to me that in order to get out of the risk group of victims of the talk of unity in religious Zionism, the first step is to recognize that there is also evil in the world. Not everything is good, not everything can be accommodated, not everything can be forgiven, and certainly not everyone can be united.
Someone told me this week in despair that this terrible government is "hiding its face." I told him that in my eyes it is actually revealing its face. All its lies are transparent, all the falsification, the cynicism, the lack of morality. You see everything. The passions, the revenges, the distortions. There is a magnificent investigation here. Everything is open and known before us. If anything, the hiding of the face is those who don't understand the story. Who don't know how to separate good from evil, between what is permitted and what is forbidden. That's a lot of hiding of the face.
3.
And just as not everyone who speaks in a caressing tone about unity is necessarily full of free love, we must remember that not everyone who shouts and screams is necessarily a person of hatred and judgment. And that is sometimes confusing.
A week ago I spoke with my friend from New York, Yehuda Green. For those who don't know the man (brother, you don't know what you're missing), I'll explain that in addition to being a wonderful composer and creator, he is one of the world's best performers of Carlebach songs and Carlebach's version. Every year, hundreds of Jews from the United States and abroad come to his first selichot in Manhattan, and tens of thousands more watch them. And for good reason. He is a special soul, with a special emotion, his prayers make a great impression in heaven and on YouTube.
Well, that same Yehuda Green, the man and the heart, called me a few days ago and said the following sentence to me: "I saw you on some panel on Channel 20, on that Israel lover's show.".
The truth is that I was surprised. What about Yehuda Green and Channel 20? I didn't think he watched this channel in the United States. Although I've already gotten used to it, discovering the unique ratings of this channel, especially here in Israel with those who aren't willing for Amnon Abramovich to continue explaining reality to them.
But wait, who is Yehuda Green talking about? What "Israel lover" broadcasts a current affairs program on Channel 20? I tried to think of program hosts I've interviewed recently. Every name that came to mind was more combative than its counterpart.
Then Green remembered, "Well, this is Erel, Erel Segal. Wow, what love for Israel this Jew has!".
I admit that at first, and also at second, I was surprised. What is it with Arel Segal and Ahavat Yisrael? He has quite a few virtues, he is a great scholar, and an intellectual, and a repentant, and funny, and charismatic. But Ahavat Yisrael? He keeps shouting!
Then, in the third moment, I understood. And the truth is that this understanding caused me to do a kind of soul-searching. Because I suddenly realized that I, too, am a prisoner of concepts. Although I have long known how to beware of bad people who speak beautiful words, I still perceive those who shout as detractors and even haters. And here, on the other hand, someone who has a sensitive heart like Yehuda Green's, knows how to listen deeply. And when he sees Erel Segal speaking harsh words about the new government - he recognizes in him caring and love of Israel. And he is right.
Calm down (and calm down, my wife), this doesn't mean that I'm starting to yell on air from today. And I really don't agree with Segal's opinion on all issues. But this very surprising sentence by Yehuda Green opened my mind and heart.
4.
And speaking of the reasons for the destruction, on the eve of Tisha B'Av, I hope Kamtza and Bar Kamtza will forgive me, but gratuitous hatred was not the only reason for the destruction of the house. Nor is it the only reason why it has not yet been built. The Gemara in Tractate Shabbat (199, page 2) provides a long list of sins that there is no chance that the members of the new government would want us to remember:
""Abaye said: Jerusalem was not destroyed except because the Sabbath was desecrated in it." Yes, desecration of the Sabbath, of course, in its public manifestation, causes destruction. For the information of the Prime Minister and his Minister of Transportation, who on her first day declared that she would promote public transportation on the Sabbath.
""Rav Hamonona said: Jerusalem was not destroyed except because the babies of Rabban's house were destroyed in it." The Maharal explains that those who do not receive the privilege of being educated in Torah study are the beginning of the end of Torah life, and the destruction of the future soul of the people, which also leads to physical destruction. Amal'ah.
""Ula said: Jerusalem was not destroyed except because they had no shame for one another. As it is said, 'They were ashamed because they committed abomination - even shame will not make them ashamed.'" That is, not only did they commit sins, but they were also not ashamed of them, and even went to be interviewed about them for a period of 7 days.
""Rav Yehuda said: Jerusalem was not destroyed except because the scholars despised it." I don't know if in those days they despised the scholars to such an extent that they cut, overnight, the budget for their children's dormitories.
""Rabbi Yitzchak said: Jerusalem was not destroyed except because the small and the great were equal. As it is said: 'And it shall be as a people - as a priest, as a slave - as his master, as a maid - as her mistress, as a buyer - as a seller, as a borrower - as a borrower.'" In other words, there is no respect for those with positions or positions. Every maid feels like a mistress, and everyone with six mandates becomes prime minister.
And the last reason, "Raba said: Jerusalem was not destroyed except because the people of Amana left it." Well, that doesn't need to be explained, right?
May we be worthy of correcting all these sins, and also the sin of gratuitous hatred. Good news, salvation, and comfort.
• The column is published in the newspaper 'Bisheva''
