As every year, in anticipation of Tisha B'Av, the phrase "unjust hatred" emerges in public discourse, which, according to the sages, is the cause of destruction and exile. Parallels are repeatedly drawn between the days of the Second Temple and today, and the danger of unrighteous hatred is discussed.
But what exactly is gratuitous hatred? Will you find a single person who would admit that their hatred of another person or any group is gratuitous hatred, that is, pure hatred, without reason? You will not find such a person, because each and every one will passionately claim that they do not hate anyone, but that there are various 'reasons' for their blatant attacks on others.
Hatred is always wrapped in various reasons and claims, but the reasons and claims did not give rise to the hatred, but rather the hatred found them to cover itself with. No one wants to admit that they hate others for their very existence, and therefore it is convenient for them to cling to various claims, in order to make the hatred seem justified.
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Hard to overcome
Such was the hatred of the Gentiles for the people of Israel throughout history. Once, the anti-Semites claimed that the reason for their hostility was the wealth of the Jews. After robbing them of their money and reducing them to the lowest level, they justified their hatred by saying that the Jews were miserable beggars. When they adhered to their religion, they were taunted that they were different. When they tried to blend in with the Gentiles, they were accused of infiltrating everywhere. Behind all the reasons and claims stood anti-Semitism, pure hatred of Jews.
This is actually gratuitous hatred, hatred for the very existence of the other person. That is why it is so difficult to overcome it. If a person hates his friend for a specific reason, it is possible to resolve the cause of the conflict and eliminate the hatred; but when the hatred stems from the very existence of the other person, and is only dependent on such and such reasons, there is no point in finding a solution to a specific claim, because a new claim will always arise.
Unfortunately, we live in a reality where hatred is sprayed from every possible direction. Today, it is claimed that in the past, things published in the public domain were filtered by an editor, who would suppress insults and slander, whereas now everyone can freely spread their thoughts, and thus the air is filled with harsh expressions of hatred and saturated with slander and insults.
This is true, but those who made this claim only became alarmed when they tasted the hatred directed at them. For years, shocking expressions of hatred were written in the "respectable" newspapers and horrifying hate speech was heard on radio and television broadcasts - except that they were directed at other groups in the population. Now other parts of the public are also feeling the bad taste of hatred.
Look for the connection.
Unfortunately, public discourse is characterized by gratuitous hatred, which fuels the controversy and the partisanship under various pretexts. The way to eradicate it is by cultivating gratuitous love – love without reasons, love even when there are opposing reasons. To seek the connection, the reconciliation, the common denominator.
It is important to remind ourselves again and again that every Jew is a beloved brother, flesh of our flesh. Even if he thinks differently or acts differently – he is our brother. Free love will overcome hatred, eliminate the cause of destruction and bring about redemption.
