Parshas Tazriah-Metzorah 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
וביום השמיני ימול בשר ערלתו ... (יב-ג)
The year 1929 (5689) was a year of pain and suffering for the Jews of Eretz Yisroel. The murderous and marauding Arabs attacked the small Jewish community of Chevron (Hebron), including the renowned Knesses Yisroel Yeshivah, killing sixty seven Jews and wounding another sixty. The savagery inflicted by the Arab killers was astounding even by their own bestial standards and Jews all over the world - even decent gentiles - were appalled at the massacre that took place.
However, what was more appalling, was the local British authorities seemed to indicate that it was the Jews’ own fault that they were subjected to this treatment, and had they not insisted on living amongst the Arabs in Hebron, there would have been no provocation to warrant such an attack. In fact, this was the distinct impression that Sir Harry Charles Luke - British High Commissioner of Palestine and later deputy to the acting Chief Secretary - gave in his dealings and memorandum to local British officials, and it was no secret that he favored the Arab minions over the Jews of the Yishuv.
At one of the numerous official ceremonies that took place in Jerusalem, not long after the 1929 massacre, the Jewish delegation, led by Chief Rabbi, Rav Avraham Yitzchok Hakohen Kook zt”l, was met on the receiving line by the High Commissioner himself. Sir Harry Luke, prim and proper, and totally devoid of warmth, held out his hand disdainfully in greeting, however, Rav Kook refused to shake the hand of a person who so openly disregarded the Jews, and quickly walked on by. The slight was noticed by everyone present and the High Commissioner was mightily insulted.
The Chief Rabbi’s actions became the topic of heated discussions all over Jerusalem, and beyond. There were those who supported Rav Kook and felt that he was right in snubbing Sir Luke, for this was a way to show that he was most undesired and not respected by the bulk of his Jewish subjects. On the other hand, a great many of the Chief Rabbi’s foes were upset with his actions and feared that the High Commissioner, as well as his underlings in the governing British Mandate, would now have even more reason to dislike the Jews, and thereby show greater favoritism to the Arabs. Who knows, they claimed, if this does not lead to more pogroms and more unrestrained incitement against the Yishuv, for the British would now have no reason at all to protect its Jewish subjects. A bitter war of words broke out between the various factions of the Yishuv, and it further splintered the small community into even greater disunity.
During this period, a Bris Milah was held in Jerusalem, and the Chief Rabbi was invited to attend. When Rav Kook arrived, the accusations and finger-pointing began again in earnest, and the heat of the arguments threatened to disturb the celebration. Finally, Rav Kook called over his attendant and told him how to respond to the naysayers.
The attendant stood up and spoke to the massed crowd. “Rabbosai, the baby is about to arrive and when he does, he will be greeted by the customary ‘Boruch Haba.’ It is interesting to note that we do not welcome a Bar Mitzvah boy, or a Chosson and Kallah with ‘Boruch Haba.’ Only a tiny baby. Furthermore, we do not send off the baby, after the conclusion of the ceremony with ‘Boruch Hayotzei’ - a parting blessing to see him on his way. Did you ever wonder why this is so?”
The hall was now quiet. The fomenting arguments had ceased. Everyone was listening with rapt attention. “My friends, when a tiny baby is brought in, he is not yet circumcised. He is an ערל - for all intents and purposes, he is not yet Jewish. So people are so impressed by the sight and polish of a non-Jew, that they will show extra respect and greet him with extra salutations. Once the baby is circumcised, however, he is no longer and ערל - he is a Jew like all other Jews, and people are not all that impressed anymore!” The crowd began to buzz heatedly but the gabbai smiled and quieted them down.
“My friends, obviously I am joking. But can we not all learn a lesson from the matter at hand? Why should we let a gentile treat us harshly and then show him our respect? A gentile must know that he cannot treat a Jew as he pleases and the Jew will roll over and accept it!” The mood in the room seemed to shift and people understood the reason behind Rav Kook’s action.