NOACH 5784 Moral Corruption Rabbi Andrew Shaw Chief Executive, Mizrachi UK
It has been a week of extremes. On the one hand, I was so comforted by the visits to Israel by Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak. Leaders of the world backing Israel 100%. It should not be noteworthy when people declare their support for a sovereign country fighting against a genocidal terrorist entity that has slaughtered over 1000 civilians in cold blood. However, in the confused world we live in, it is. On the other hand, we keep seeing a proliferation of hatred against the Jewish State on our campuses, in Hollywood, in the media and on the streets. Just yesterday more than 2,000 artists, actors and musicians in the UK, including Tilda Swinton, Steve Coogan, Charles Dance and Maxine Peake, signed a letter calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for “our governments to end their military and political support for Israel’s actions. Our governments are not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them.” This was bad enough, but it did not mention at all the sickening terror attacks by Hamas! As if Israel just decided to bomb Gaza for no reason! Then of course there was the appalling journalism in the aftermath of the explosion by a hospital in Gaza. As Juliet Samuel wrote in The Times:
For some critical number of hours, the BBC, The New York Times and various other globally significant western media declared as verifiable fact that Israel had killed 500 civilians by destroying an entire hospital. Back in reality, it turns out that what had actually happened was that a terrorist rocket misfired and landed on a car park, killing an as yet unknown number of innocent people but leaving the hospital almost entirely intact. When the truth emerged, most of the media outlets did not issue corrections, admit they had relied on Hamas sources for a major news story, send out fresh notifications, review their editorial policies or reverse their emotive headlines to blame the terrorist group for the latest senseless massacre. They prevaricated, added weasel-worded caveats and quietly tweaked phrases to maintain the initial impression so that, for example, a BBC subhead stating “hundreds killed” became “hundreds were taking shelter”. And almost a whole day later, demonstrably false social media posts parroting Hamas’s original lines were
still live online. These lies led to cancellations of meetings of Arab governments with Joe Biden and a surge in anti-semitic protests worldwide. Why can’t everyone just see the truth? As Rishi Sunak said today:
“You described this as Israel’s darkest hour. Well then it’s for me to say I’m proud to stand here with you in Israel’s darkest hour, as your friend we will stand with you in solidarity, we will stand with your people and we also want you to win.” How can people not see the evil, the barbarism, the hate? Friends, last Shabbat, across the world, we read about the creation of the world in Bereishit, with the hope for a perfect world. This Shabbat, in Parshat Noach, we will read about the destruction of the world, a world that turned evil, a world that was irredeemable. What was the reason for the evil? What sealed its fate? Why was it irredeemable? The Torah in this week’s Parsha tells us clearly: ִ ַשֵּׁחת ָהאֶָרץ ִלְפֵני ָֽהֱאִֹל ים ו ִ ַיא ו: תָּמֵּלא ָהאֶָרץ ָחָֽמס ָתּ Now the earth was corrupt before Hashem, and the earth became full of lawlessness/ violence. שׂר ָבּא ְלָפַני ִכּי־ָֽמְלאָה ָהאֶָרץ ָחָמס ִמְפֵּניֶהם ָ יג וַֹיּאֶמר ֱאֹל ים ְלֹנַח ֵקץ ָכּל־ָבּ And Hashem said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth has become full of lawlessness / violence. (Bereishit 6:11, 13) I have to destroy the world said Hashem, as the world is filled with Hamas. Here Hamas refers to lawlessness, violence, a complete breakdown of morality – a collapsed civilization which must be wiped out. Hamas 2023 is no different. Of course, the current Hamas, did not choose their name from Parshat Noach. It is an Arabic name, but the similarity between what they stand for and what the Torah describes Hamas as, is remarkable. And in Pasuk 11, we see that the world was corrupted which allowed Hamas to thrive. This is understood to mean there was a twisting of morality, similar again to what is happening today with some of the ‘useful idiots’ whether they are actors, musicians, media or academia. They’re at best case, stupid and mindless and at worst case, anti-semitic and evil – and their actions are allowing the Hamas ideology to thrive. Last Motzei Shabbat on Shabbat Bereishit, as we always do, we made Havdalah, which of course is made over two joined flames. The reason why Havdalah last week was special is because the Gemara in Pesachim explains that at the first ever Shabbat, which we remember on Shabbat Bereshit, Adam was granted the knowledge for fire, which is why we use fire Motzei Shabbat.
Havdalah means to distinguish. To distinguish bein Kodesh l’Chol – between Holy and Secular. Bein Ohr l’Choshech - between Light and Darkness. Bein Yisrael L’Amim, - between Israel and the nations. What is Israel? It is not just a country, a people, but it also demonstrates the values of the Jewish people from our Torah. Values of equality, family, community, kindness, justice and truth. The world needs to distinguish, and questions need to be asked. Are you with us? Are you with light, with truth, with love? Or are you against us? Are you aligned with darkness, with lies, with hatred? Are you part of the moral corruption? Hamas is darkness, lies, hatred. It is morally repugnant. Hamas must be destroyed, so light can shine in the Middle East and Israel can thrive in peace and continue her role in Tikkun Olam. I am so proud of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. I am so grateful for the support we are receiving.
Mi Keamacha Yisrael - Goi Echad b Aretz - Who is like you O Israel a unique nation in the world! May Hashem continue to bless and protect the IDF in their battle against the forces of evil and may we soon hear the sounds of joy on the return of the captives and may Hashem grant a complete victory for Am Yisrael with a minimum of loss of life of innocents on both sides.
Bimheira Beyamenu Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!
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