[Avodah] Parshah Ki Teitzie 9/11, Amaleik, Honesty and Anti-Semitism

[Richard Wolpoe]

The juxtaposition of honest wights and measures has been used by Hazal to be
a causal connexion.; viz. when Jews are dishonest in business the spectre of
Amaleik rears its ugly head. And I have heard similar statements by
Holocaust survivors. Supposedly, Anwar Sadat had anti-Semitic feelings due
to being ripped off as a youngster by a Jewish businessman.

So be it.

But I would like to suggest as slight nuance shift. The concept that
dishonesty in business triggers Anti-Semitism or Amaleik is difficult to
perceive. How can the simple act of being dishonest bring about full-fledged
persecution?

I would suggest an alternative way of understanding this point. I.E. that
there are Latent Anti-Semites all over the place. However, when we Jews
behave ourselves we merit Divine Protection. However, when we Misbehave we
are stripped of this special shield and we are now VULNERABLE to Amaleik or
Anti-Semitism. This might be viewed as a form of negative re-enforcement
philosophically speaking; nevertheless in pragmatic and historical terms
this can explain how a relatively minor infraction can trigger such a
virulent response.

The late Jerry Falwell and other Christian Leaders voiced a similar point of
view [POV] with regard to 9-11. and that is normally America merits Divine
Protection but for some misbehaviour this Divine Shield was removed. In the
case of the Christian Right, that was attributed to Sexual deviance, etc.
While the specifc attribution might betray a right-wing or Fundamentalist
mindset, the concept of Divine Protection being removed is IMHO indeed a
very legitimate Jewish, Midrashic concept. In the case of us Jews, the
shield subject to business practices. Woe unto us re: some recent
allegations re: some prominent Jewish Businesses.

In the case of America I have no idea which sin was the egregious one that
removed this Divine Protection. Perhaps the Christian Right has it right,
but it is also possible it has it wrong. If the Dor Hamabbul is a precedent
for the world at large, the issue would be "hamas" or a form of thievery -
not sexual deviancy. Nevertheless,. the impact is similar, i.e. that any
catastrophe must bring about active introspection and is a call for
self-improvement regardless of the specific shortcoming. To put it another
way. the Christian Right might have the specific misdeed all wrong but could
also be 100% correct that SOME misdeed permitted this plot to succeed and we
are therefore impelled to take this as a wake up call.

With thoughts of Elllul time Teshuva,
RRW


-- 
Kesiva vaChasima Tova
Best Wishes for the New Year 5769
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
see: http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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