Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Drash 5786

As we discussed in this morning’s class, Parshat Kedoshim is the second of three omnibus parshiot in the Torah which contain a disproportionately large number of mitzvot. In other words, if you divide the total number of mitzvot in the Torah, 613, by the number of parshiot, 54, we would expect 11.35 mitzvot per parsha – on average. Parshat Kedoshim has 51 mitzvot. 

Such a dense concentration of mitzvot demands our attention, invites us to dig deeper. 

I would like to focus on one verse in particular this morning: Leviticus 19:16. The text is as follows:

(טז) לֹא־תֵלֵ֤ךְ רָכִיל֙ בְּעַמֶּ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תַעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־דַּ֣ם רֵעֶ֑ךָ אֲנִ֖י ה’׃

“Do not be a gossipmonger amongst your people; do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor, for I am G-d.”

Which half of that verse do you think I’m going to expound upon?

Tempting though it is to rail against the evils of gossip and talebearing (I once knew an older rabbi who advised that if you’re stuck for a Shabbat morning topic, talk about gossipmongering – it’s always timely, and you’ll never offend anyone because you’re CLEARLY not talking about them!), the focus of my thoughts this morning is the latter part of the verse. 

But first, what’s the connection between the two halves of this verse; why are they connected?

The answer should be clear: we rarely give thought to the power of our words. Our words can elevate and ennoble, as in prayer, or as in messages of love, compassion, understanding and support to others in need; but words can also destroy. A malicious rumor at work and somebody loses their job, now unable to support their family. Car repo’ed, house foreclosed, lives ruined by intemperate speech.

Or worse: we now live in a time when bullying and cyber-bullying are being linked to dozens of suicides. Some high profile cases include:

• Amanda Todd (2012): A Canadian teenager who posted a video detailing her torment before taking her own life. Her case prompted international attention and a national discussion in Canada regarding cyberbullying.
• Megan Meier (2006): A 13-year-old American who died by suicide after a “fake” profile created by an adult, which was designed to harass her, sent cruel messages.
• Tyler Clementi (2010): An 18-year-old who died by suicide after his roommate used a webcam to live-stream him.
• Dolly Everett (2018): A 14-year-old Australian teenager whose death led to the formation of “Dolly’s Law” to criminalize cyberbullying. 

Prophetically, by linking gossip and bloodshed, the Torah is driving home the point that the abuse of our power of speech can – literally – kill.

Think before you speak. Consider: what if you only had 500 words to use every day? Including texting? And no, they don’t roll over. How carefully would you weigh every utterance? How deliberate would you be in your choice of words? One thing’s for sure – you wouldn’t dare squander precious words on gossip. 

Be that 500 word-a-day person.

By the way, this drash is pretty close to 500 words right now, and I haven’t even gotten started. Physician, heal thyself (haha).

I was reflecting this week on Lo Ta’Amod al Dam Reiecha, the prohibition of not standing idly by as innocent blood is shed. Rashi’s famous example is rescuing a person drowning in a river, but I think we can significantly broaden the notion of Lo Ta’amod.

This week, we celebrated Yom Ha”Atzma’ut, Israel’s 78th anniversary of its independence. Yom Ha”Atzma’ut is not merely a national commemoration of the founding of the state; all nations celebrate this important milestone. Yom Ha”Atzma’ut is qualitatively different from other national birthdays because it represents the first sprouting of the Ultimate Redemption, an event which will usher in an era of blessing and prosperity for all of mankind, Jew and Gentile alike. 

But the price of the establishment of the State of Israel has not come cheap. According to the statistics compiled by the Israeli government, over 25,600 soldiers, police and other security personnel have fallen in defense of our homeland. Since October 7th 2023 alone, over 900 have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of family, home and country.

Since 1920, over 5,500 innocent civilians have been murdered by Jihadi savages in Israel. And the world stood idly by.

On October 7, 2023, 1,200 people were raped, tortured and murdered – and the world not only yawned, it ferociously and cynically accused us, the victims, of the very atrocities that were perpetrated against us.

And of course, that same world looked the other way while 6 million innocent human beings left this earth through chimneys and after unspeakable tortures, so maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised. They’re experts at moral temporizing. 

Today, Israel & the United States are the living embodiment of Lo Ta’amod, of taking action against a state-sponsor of institutional murder and terrorism. We are on the threshold of eliminating one of the most ruthless regimes of our times, one with the blood of over 30,000 of its own citizens on their hands, let alone thousands of others around the world. The Islamic Republic is the prime purveyor and exporter of death, not only in their own country, but with tentacles that extend to every continent. The collapse of the Islamic Revolution, which is in reach, would do much to stabilize the Middle East and create the backdrop for global peace and prosperity for a long time to come.

And yet we dither. Most western nations stand on the sidelines, paralysed by fear of their own Muslim minorities. I would like to be able to speak intelligently about this war, but I cannot. There is so much conflicting information and misinformation and disinformation and outright propaganda floating around out there that I am unable to make sense of it all. For example: who controls the Straits of Hormuz? The United States says we are in control and the Strait is closed to maritime traffic. Yet the Iranians just hijacked two cargo ships in recent days and claim to be actively mining the Strait. So…what gives? And many other such incongruities, including dizzyingly inconsistent messaging from the President himself.

But, speaking more broadly, in the shadow of unilateral ceasefires, the sense is that we are letting a historic opportunity slip through our fingers.

I am not a politician or a general, just a lowly pulpit rabbi. I know little about military strategy save for what I read in history books. But I do know that this is the most just, most justifiable, the most righteous war since World War II.

I also know a little Torah, and I am convinced that this military offensive against Iran will save tens thousands of lives in the future, both Jewish and Gentile. This is Lo Ta’amod in action. But only – and this is the critical caveat – if we see it through to its conclusion – regime change coupled with a stable moderate Iranian government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Lo Ta’amod is a call to action. We hold up placards and scream “Never Again!” and we feel better for an hour, yet somehow Jews are still dying for the high crime of being Jewish, for standing tall and unapologetic as His chosen representatives in this world, the world’s most unwelcome voice of conscience. Sometimes it’s no fun being Jiminy Cricket.

The slogan “Never Again” was coined by Rabbi Meir Kahane, one of my heroes, back in the 1960’s. He was excoriated for his reactionary views regarding Jews and Arabs, was labeled a racist, was expelled from Knesset for it, and was ultimately murdered by a Palestinian while visiting New York City in 1990.

But tell me: in retrospect, what did he say that was so controversial? That Jew and Arab cannot occupy the same Land in peace? That the perfidious Brits lopped off ⅔ of the Jewish National Home and, to curry favor with the Arabs, gifted it to an emir who needed his own country to push around? That G-d created 57 Islamic States in the world and only one Jewish one? After October 7, after the death of the Oslo illusion, most Israelis have come to the realization that Kahane was not so wrong after all. May Hashem avenge his spilled blood.

Lo Ta’amod is not aspirational. It is real, it demands action, now, in real time. Lo Ta’amod forbids complacency and apathy; we can not – must not – turn our gaze away. So if no one will advocate for the Druze in Southern Syria, we will step in to protect them. Lo Taamod al Dam Reiecha.

And if the Pope won’t address the mass slaughters of Christians in Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia & Ethiopia, we must stand for them. Lo Taamod al Dam Reiecha.

And if the Bobbies look the other way at Pakistanis grooming vulnerable British teenagers and them serially drugging and raping them, passing these girls around to dozens of men – then we will bring it to light.

We who hold the preservation of human life as a supreme value must stand together to confront those who embrace death and submission. Those of us who value the lives of our children and our families more than the demise of our enemy must make common cause against the purveyors and exporters of death, those who actively seek the death of our children and our families. 

The Iranians intentionally target dense residential areas with their cluster bomb ballistic missiles in order to incur the maximum civilian damage – in other words, death to our children, our families, our elderly. 

Tell me: where is the international outrage at targeting civilians? Where are the calls for War Crimes Tribunals? The nations of the world trample on Lo Ta’amod and one day, they, too, will be held to account.

Hashem’s hand has miraculously sheltered us from their murderous assaults. The Iranians, and indeed, the world, have yet to learn that the days of cheap Jewish blood running in the gutters are over. Never Again must be our lived reality – in an Islamic Republic-free world.

Let us pray that our leaders have the vision to see this job through, and may G-d bless the American and Israeli servicemen and women who are fighting to eradicate the forces of evil in this world.

Shabbat Shalom.