By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
Pulled from the Headlines
When I write, I sometimes have editors who want columns several weeks in advance. I find that very hard to do because I’m more of a spontaneous writer. Something will happen that touches my soul, tickles my brain, and makes me want to comment on it.
Many a fiction writer has been inspired by current events to create a work that is, “Pulled from the Headlines,” meaning that it’s based on a true story. What makes it unique, though, is the perspective of the writer as he or she responds to those stories they hear.
The trouble with headlines these days is that the media doesn’t report happenings without the commentary and opinion of the writer. Each headline is especially nuanced to drive you in one direction or another, depending on the outlet. The crazy part is that everyone knows it, and they choose the news source which aligns with their own beliefs.
That’s one reason I don’t seek to find out the news for the most part. If I do, I don’t read all they have to say, and I certainly don’t believe it all. The reason is that the world generally doesn’t understand events the way we, as Jews, do. Just as scientists will focus on how the universe came into being, while people following Torah focus on why, so do the newscasters discuss the geopolitical causes and effects without realizing that there’s always a deeper message, one that we ought to be looking for.
The world focuses on the Jewish response to Hamas, never reporting on how Hamas, like Stalin, Hitler, and Castro, oppress and murder their own people who disagree with them. That’s not news, but what the Jews do is. Have you ever wondered why that is?
It isn’t because the world hates us. I mean, it’s true that they hate us, but Chazal tell us why. Har Sinai, where we received the Torah, got its name because that’s when Sin’a, hatred, descended to the world. The Jews are different and despite all the hype about celebrating diversity, it doesn’t work. We are meant to be different and aloof. When the world feels that we are superior, they get angry about it. The only time it wouldn’t be true was if we were completely righteous and doing what Hashem wants from us. Alas, we aren’t there yet, so they are against us.
Now it’s our turn to editorialize and wonder about the news. When they say we are genocidal, out to get those who are different, we must ask, is it true? Do we mistreat our fellow Jews who serve Hashem differently than we do? I’m not talking about those who aren’t serving Hashem, but instead serving themselves. That’s also a reason the world hates us. We have the Torah but don’t act like it.
But how do we treat other Jews who are keeping the Torah and mitzvos? Many of us harbor secret prejudices we may not even acknowledge. The world senses that, and they treat us as outcasts.
I’ve wondered why Hamas dug tunnels, and what the message of the hostages is. Like a media pundit, I’ve come to my own conclusions. We say that people stick their heads in the sand like ostriches, to avoid hearing or seeing things. Well, ostriches don’t really do this, but people do! Maybe not literally, but figuratively. They don’t want to see the truth so they don’t. Hamas’s tunnels, to me, are a metaphor for that behavior.
When you contemplate the horrible reality that so many people were held hostage for so long, with many of them not making it out alive, you must ask what it means. To me, it says that we are almost all hostages, captured by the pseudo-reality of this world and not realizing we’re being constrained by our desires. Many go to their graves never realizing how captive they were in life, and it’s time for us to wake up now before it’s too late.
These are messages from Hashem, and the world is His channel. The things around us are intended to make us think, react, and change. We don’t see the news merely as facts, but as guideposts indicated our next mission, and the direction we ought to take.
The next time you hear something, ask yourself why. What could the deeper message be? Perhaps, by getting the message, you will prevent it from having to be repeated over and over. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful bit of good news?
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