Living the Legacy of the Chofetz Chaim
On occasion of the Yahrtzeit of the saintly Chofetz Chaim, we ought recall that his monumental Sefer was written in all of its' painstaking detail in order to guide us in how to speak out when necessary. If we were to simply maintain constant silence, much of the Sefer would be superfluous. Proper Shemiras HaLashon is not to perpetually "plead the Fifth."
One of the premiere imperatives requiring our vocal vigilance is the obligation "Lo sa'amod al-dam rei'echah" (VaYikra 19:16) - immediately following the primary prohibition against Loshon Horah - "Lo sai'lech ro'chil b'amecha."
From the heart-rendering consequences of silence in the face of real and present dangers we learn how the proper, active observance of the shemiras ha'Lashon is vital to ensure hatzalos nefashos.
The aforementioned passuk concludes "Ani HaShem," apparently in light of the fact that standing up for the unpopular Emes is often difficult, but not nearly as much as it is ultimately rewarding.
One practical application demanding communal improvement in this regard as we approach the Yomim Noraim is this: Perhaps the most tangible, recognizable manner that we as a community impact society is via voting.
Everyone in the know realizes that far too many in our community will vote for the lowest of the low proponents of Mabul-class (LGBTQ) abomination, legalized infanticide, and stealth euthanasia - provided they throw enough money and zoning permits towards those financial interests who decide who the community should elect.
The culpable real-estate magnates and community-builders claim they're seeking the benefit of "the community." Of course, even that would never justify selling out Halacha or Kovod Shomayim for government benefits.
Shulchan Aruch is very clear: we are obliged to sacrifice all our our wealth to avoid committing a prohibition - Yoreh Daiyoh 157:1; also cited in Sefer Chofetz Chaim I:1:6. How much more so are we prohibited from committing the monumental sin of Chillul HaShem in order to obtain government funding. By voting for greater-evil candidates that's exactly what we're doing - on a public and communal level!
And even if they'll ostensibly win without us - would you vote for the politician who murdered your parents just because they're supposedly a shoe-in?
Additionally, in reality, most such community actors routinely ignore the actual benefit of the community. For example, it's not in our communal interest to:
1. elect leftwing judges who release dangerous murders, molesters and scam artists, or
2. legislators who enable them to do so; or
3. to allow government to persecute parents, Rebbeim and Morahs for disciplining youth seeking to transition to the opposite gender or commit abortion; or
4. to allow dangerous abortion pills that any girl - or boy - can get;
5. to allow state government to infiltrate Alphabet-People (LGBTQ2S ad nauseam) ideological runoff into any school - or into our institutions.
In fact, that's the fare they've been electing (all just to put a smile on "our Community's" faces) - if anyone has been watching for the past several decades.
This ongoing communal Chillul HaShem cannot continue without communal Divine Retribution (see Akeidas Yitzchak VaYaira 20 on Sedom). And we can intelligently do something about it:
1) Stop enabling it with our silence. If you tolerate evil - you pay for the evil you enable (see Rashi Shabbos 54b).
2) Stop allowing the thousands of uninformed/ naïve voters - those whom we can reach - to be manipulated to participate in this massive Chillul HaShem. Intelligently and politely reach out to them via postcards, robocalls and flyers if their local frum periodicals persist in refusing to publish ads.
3) End the silent toleration of the abuse of Torah to enable the undermining of the Torah (see Mishnas Rav Aharon, of Rav Aharon Kotler ZT"L, 1:2:3:6). The legacy of the Gedolim of the previous generation exhorts us that we cannot build kosher Torah or kosher communal institutions on unkosher money - money procured by violation of a prohibition.
4) Stop being fooled by political propaganda, regardless of political party. Rav Shach ZT"L exhorted: it's assur to be a tipaish (fool). The first three generally cost money. This one is free (but, for all the bargain-hunters out there, all four of them are truly lucrative investments).
Many readers may be particularly responsive to this inspirational insight, regarding the Mesiras-Nefesh imperative, words perhaps never as relevant as they are now:
"... The greater the difficulty, the more biting the ridicule and sarcasm, and the more numerous the opponent -- then the holier is the principle, and the more sacred is our duty to defend it.
In my opinion, the halachic dictum bishas gezeras ha-malchus afillu mitzvah kallah ke'gon le-shinuyei Arkesa de-mesana, ye'hareg ve'al Ya'avor ... applies not only to political and religious persecution originated by some pagan ruler, but also to situations in which a small number of G-d-fearing and Torah-loyal people is confronted with a hostile attitude on the part of the majority dominated by a false philosophy."*
(Emphasis added here.)
* from: Rav Joseph Dov Soloveitchik, O.B.M. (reprinted in Baruch Litvin, The Sanctity of the Synagogue, p. 111, quoted by Rabbi Mayer Twersky, in a landmark article entitled "Judaism and Deviant Behavior," appearing in Dialogue, Fall 2013, #4, page 239-240.)
So why the deafening silence as tens of thousands of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel are routinely misled and malinformed into voting for some of the most dangerous people around?
We repeat this lethal cycle of communal silence - and worse - every election, in clear violation of the directives of dozens of Gedolei Rabbonim - including many chassidish ones (including the previous Satmar Rebbe ZT"L) - who started protesting the sellout of Torah principles for material gain well over 40 years ago (documentation available).
The K'lallos we recently read were meant to be feared - in order to be avoided - not experienced. Lately, Heavenly warnings have been incoming fast and furiously: "Repent!" Which word didn't we understand?
We all want a better year for ourselves and Klal Yisroel. So let's try this: "Lo sa'amod al-dam rei'echah." It works.
May we merit a Kesivah Vechasimah Tovah by eliminating its' impediments. Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
