BS"D
Parshas Re'aih, 5785
© Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter, Aug. 18, '25
It’s Collaboration In KILLING, Not “Medical Aid In DYING”
{Also posted at: https://www.
One of the European Gedolei-Mussar of a couple of generations ago, the Mashgiach of Yeshivas Chac
And how it is. And it's reflective therein of the undergirding culture of Edom, a defining characteristic of which is highlighted in this week's Parsha (Re'aih, 14:8), in the passuk referring to the Chazir [paradigmatic of the grandstanding persona exhibited so prominently by the malfeasant elements of of Edom] - including both its' external kosher and internal unkosher characteristics -- and in that order.
Our Holy Sages exhorted us that the evildoers of Edom extend themselves to exhibition their faux righteousness - while perpetrating their crimes. This quality is symbolized by the swine. The swine protrudes his split hooves - his kosher characteristics - while his unkosher ones remain hidden from the eye.
From a careful analysis of the account of the Roman execution (or, perhaps, assassination) of Rabbi Chanina Ben Tradyon in Avoda Zorah 18a, it appears that it's not just that the wickedness of Edom is covered-up by their pretensions of righteousness -- it's that their wickedness is actually enabled thereby. That's because they cannot continue to perpetrate their evil unless they can continue to effectively mask their wicked intentions from the masses.
That's apparently the reason for choosing to execute Rabbi Chanina Ben Tradyon specifically on that day, just as all the leaders of Rome were returning from the funeral of another Torah sage (Rabbi Yossi Ben Kisma) - for whom they had all delivered what Chazal qualify as a Hesped Gadol (a "Great Eulogy"). On the very day that all of the leaders of Rome went "all out" to honor Rabbi Yossi Ben Kisma - they knew that they thereby succeeded in cleverly carving out a very short window of opportunity to execute Rabbi Chanina [and to do so with the epic cruelty Chazal describe] - in an environment in which they would not be "credibly" accused of doing so out of animosity towards the Torah.
If they would have delayed until the very next day - the emotional effects of their powerfully pompous but duplicitous facade of Kovod HaTorah would have already begun to wear off - and people would come to their senses about the genuine motivations behind the execution, including a burning Roman hatred of his devotion to fearless, public dissemination of Torah.
This brutal execution - along with the premeditated grandstanding "for Kovod HaTorah" that both preceded and enabled it - is representional of the aforementioned duplicitous nature of the malfeasants of Edom. It was as deviously orchestrated as it was cruelly executed.
And, evidently, that is precisely why the grand Churban of Edom was decreed over this particular execution (highlighted on both Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av), as mentioned by the Medrash cited by Tosofos Avoda Zorah 2b, Romi.
Accordingly, by merely exposing their actual intentions, one can actually hope to forestall their crimes. And that's why they're so intolerant of anyone who exposes their inner machinations.
Perhaps this is all alluded to in the aforementioned passuk, by the kosher characteristics preceding the unkosher ones. Perhaps, in this case, that which precedes in order similarly precedes in causality, to imply that it's only due to the mask of false altruism that Edom can get away with all the evil they do.
It is for this very reason - namely, to mask the true nature of their actual wickedness - that the wordsmiths of Anglo governments tend to be obsessed with wanton mis-definitions. One very relevant example is what's marketed as "Assisted Suicide" legislation, which, as we write these words, is in danger of being signed into law by NY Gov. Hochul, barring sufficient communal outrage (particularly from registered Democrats).
What is "Assisted Suicide"?
The bill (A136/S138) would allow people to assist in the suicide (by poison) of someone (1) whom, doctors claim, is unlikely to live more than six months, and (2) about whom "witnesses" testify that he/she expressed the desire for suicide. Pro-Death advocates label this institutionalized collaboration in killing of those enduring formidable, long-term medical conditions as "Aid" in "Dying" (as if these euthanasia enthusiasts are just dying to put a smile on someone's face, other than of the inheritors).
To defeat these dangerous wordsmiths, we must remain vigilant in debunking their Orwellian terminology - and the exceptionally lethal messaging it spreads (e.g. https://www.theatlantic.
Action Item:
For those who have not already done so, we urge all New Yorkers - especially registered Democrats - who will be 18 y/o by next November - to heed the call of prominent Rabbonim (also echoed by the Orthodox Union, Agudath Israel, the Queens Board of Rabbis, and the Rabbinical Alliance of America) to immediately but respectfully urge NY Governor Kathy Hochul to veto the "assisted suicide" bill (A136/S138) that (preventably) passed the legislature several months ago.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul
NY State Capitol Building
Albany, NY
(518) 474-8390 (9AM-5PM)
Taking a stand for some the most defenseless in our midst - and for Kovod Shomayim - will certainly provide us much needed merits to mitigate the escalating and unrelenting Midas HaDin surrounding us.
What excuse do we have for not prioritizing this issue? If Gov. Hochul fails to veto this bill, it will kill many, many people, and not only those who you'd expect.
How to make the case?
Recent feedback suggests emphasizing to the Governor the massive loopholes in the phantom "safeguards" included. Here's a sample communication:
"As much as we oppose all "Assisted Suicide" legislation in principle [helping someone commit suicide is prohibited by the Torah as murder] - the fact is that this bill is extremely dangerous even according to the standards of those who support the idea of helping people who want to kill themselves do so. The "protections" in this bill are appallingly weak.
"1. Firstly, many people who would never want to die would be killed by greedy life-insurance beneficiaries - who are acceptable as reliable "witnesses" (!) to claim that the patient said he/ she wants to die. Thus, both the poor and the wealthy would be targeted under this bill.
"2. Secondly, poisons {slyly mislabeled "medicine" by advocates} would be dispensed without any real controls over how they're actually used. Even if the patient becomes legally "incapable" of choosing to die, they do not remove the poison. Once the "caretaker" gets hold of the poison, they could poison the patient even if he objects. Or they could poison someone else, or sell it to other wannabe murderers.
"3. Thirdly, if the flimsy "protections" are ever declared non-binding, the lethal parts of the bill will nevertheless remain in effect, without even the pretext of those protections! That demonstrates that this bill is intent on undermining personal autonomy, in the very name of safeguarding it.
"In truth, this deceptive bill is not about assisted suicide, but rather Stealth Euthanasia - outright murder. In any case, it extends far beyond the purview of any governmental authority."
May we merit the Final Redemption in the zechus of opposition to its' impediments.
For more information, please email torahjewsfordecency@
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
845.642.1679
Direct: 771.215.8892
Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).
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Again the warning from Canada - what starts as sympathy for the ill who are suffering horribly and just want a merciful end from it will quickly morph into Death On Demand.
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