If there was any hope that calls for calm and easing of tensions would fall on deaf ears, it turns out that the heat of battle is still in full swing. And perhaps some interpret the outstretched hand for reconciliation as a sign of weakness, and believe that another dose of blunt expressions will cause their opponents to wave the white flag.
They are wrong. They should listen to the voices that are growing in the other public and to their expiring patience. The accumulated bitterness could erupt with great force, and that will not get us anywhere good. It would be really good for everyone to make an effort to calm down, to lower their voices, to express themselves with more respect towards the other side.
Just respect.
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Indeed, the key word is respect. The Sages say that the disaster that befell the people of Israel, when the disciples of Rabbi Akiva died, came because "they did not show respect to one another." We must learn to respect others even when they think differently.
God created each and every one of us different from our fellow man, and therefore also his way of thinking is different and unique. Chazal formulated this in the article: "Just as their faces are not equal, so their opinions are not equal." Differences of opinion are therefore a natural thing.
The problem arises when differences of opinion take on the character of war. Instead of clarifying things with respect and mutual appreciation, conflicts develop in an atmosphere of battle. And in war, as in war, the most important thing is to strike at the opponent, to attack, to hurt.
This is the nature of many encounters, both in the media and in face-to-face conversations. The speakers' ambition is to prove to the 'home audience' that they 'put it hard' on the opponent. There is no real intention to convince and bring hearts closer. On the contrary, the goal is to strike and hurt.
Sometimes even observant Jews fall into this trap. They justify such behavior by relying on sources such as "A fool answers according to his folly," "Know what to answer," and "He blunted his teeth.".
But the luminaries of Hasidism have taught us that often the evil inclination is wrapped in a silken cloak, and in the guise of supposed holiness.
One method of clarifying this question is by testing the results. What does this method achieve, besides increasing hatred between Jews? The Jew who 'received it with his teeth', and his crowd of supporters, what do they return home with – with greater proximity to the Torah and its adherents or the opposite?
Good over evil
Many stories are told about the great men of Israel who returned good for evil, brightened up their faces when they were insulted, and exercised infinite patience even toward those who tried to humiliate them. Would the old man Hillel have joined in the exchange of blows, or would he have shown the patience he showed toward everyone that he had shown that rascal who stood at the door of his house on Shabbat Eve and called out: "Who is here Hillel?!".
No need to guess. The elder Hillel said his words clearly: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor - this is the entire Torah, and the rest is interpretation, go and learn." This is the message and this is the line. Not to confront, not to respond with 'a hair's breadth of war. To approach, to act in accordance with the law. To respect others even if their opinion differs from ours. Such behavior will diminish hatred, sanctify the name of heaven and bring about redemption.
