<div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align: justify;">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.<br><br>So be it.<br><br>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?<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br></div><br>With thoughts of Elllul time Teshuva,<br>RRW<br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Kesiva vaChasima Tova<br>Best Wishes for the New Year 5769<br>RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com<br>see: <a href="http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/">http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/</a><br>
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