Op/Ed
March 21, 2008
Has YU Learned?
Rabbi Aaron Frank
Special to the Jewish Times
Twelve-and-a-half years ago, I stood with thousands of others in shock outside of the Israeli Embassy in New York City. It was Nov. 4, 1995, and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had just been murdered by a fellow Jew — a “religious” Jew. As we stood there in tears, we realized that what happened was a direct result of an environment full of reckless accusations, incitement and hatred within our people.
It was then and there that I promised myself that if, G-d forbid, I ever encountered similar invective against an Israeli prime minister that I would stand up in outrage. I was not alone. Israel established laws against such incitement. The world Jewish community stood up and vowed never to minimize threats made by one Jew against another.
Today, sadly, our chance to fulfill this promise has arrived. This past week the New York Jewish Week reported that Rabbi Hershel Schachter, one of the heads of Yeshiva University’s Rabbinical School, said at Yeshivat HaKotel, before a room full of yeshiva students, “If the army is going to give away Yerushalyim, then I would tell everyone to resign from the army — I’d tell them to shoot the rosh hamemshalah [prime minister].” And while Rabbi Schachter has issued a statement apologizing for his words, in this case a mere apology is not enough.
An apology was not enough for the American public last spring, when Don Imus, a nationally known talk show host, made terrible racist statements on the air. Don Imus was fired from his position and only then did the process of healing and reflection begin.
Words also were not enough for the Jewish community just a few weeks ago. In response to recent reports that Barack Obama’s church was headed by a minister who supports Louis Farrakhan, Obama used the strongest language to distance himself from Farrakhan. Yet, for many in our own Jewish community, even though Obama himself has nothing to do with Farrakhan, his words were not sufficient. ADL leader Abe Foxman demanded that Obama “confront his minister” and if the minister will not alter his stance, Obama should leave the church.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Yeshiva University President Richard Joel. I have been fortunate to meet him many times. He is a gifted, bright, visionary leader who understands what the modern Jewish world needs. We need him now to step forward and take action. Rabbi Schachter’s words are the same type of horrible rhetoric that led to the murder of Rabin. They call for the murder not only of a fellow Jew, but of the democratically elected leader of the State of Israel.
Surely there will be those who will defend Rabbi Schachter and ask Mr. Joel not to make waves. Some will hide behind Halachah (Jewish law) to justify their silence. But this is a time of truth. Maybe, as Mordechai said to Esther, it is for this very moment that he was entrusted with leadership. Show that Orthodoxy stands for something more. Do not let this chilul HaShem pass with a simple slap on the wrist and business as usual.
We are now at a crossroads. Will we show that we learned the lesson of Nov. 4, 1995? I ask all Jews, and especially all segments of the Orthodox community, to join me in recommitting themselves. Whether it is at the workplace, at the synagogue or the dinner table — speak out strongly and firmly. Make it clear that even in the midst of disagreement and passion, such statements are horrific and inexcusable. Indeed, they are lethal.
Honor the promise we all made on that fateful night. Failure to speak out could tragically end in disastrous consequences. Let us speak out in the hope and prayer that this time, the energy of love will win out, true dialogue will emerge and tragedy will be avoided.