It seems that everyone talking about George Zimmerman, no one spoke about it over shabbos, yet as soon as shabbos was over it was suddenly on everyone’s mind. Today as I drove without any sound coming out of my stereo because I decided on these last two days of the 9 days to stop listening to music, all I could think about was Tisha B’Av and how George Zimmerman seemed to be more important than the most somber day in Jewish history. Not only were people preoccupied with the media hype, they seemed to think that arguing about it was going to help make it better in some way.
Since we all have no idea what really happened and those who support Zimmerman and those who don’t support him aren’t going to change their minds, I didn’t see the use in angering myself and others with such trivialities. It almost seems like Hashem created Mr. Zimmerman to take our minds off the task at hand, loving our neighbors and brethren without constantly trying to kick up the hate.
I’m not perfect, once in a rare while it appears that I harbor some hatred, I hate cilantro, white pepper, and hard boiled eggs – which appear to be on the menu tomorrow, maybe the ash will help drown out the taste and texture of them. In all seriousness, I hope that we start focusing on the major task at hand. There is a lot of hatred within the Jewish community right now. Israel seems like a ticking time bomb and the leaders there have only made it worse. In America we bicker about wearing hats on shabbos and whether or not age should matter in shidduchim, while thousands of Jews are marrying out. There’s no sense in hating someone because they aren’t on your derech. There’s no use in pushing our religious ideals on others, let’s lose some of the judging and be good to each other.
Just because someone is chassidish, doesn’t make them a woman hating thug and just because a woman is a rabbi doesn’t make her an evil person. Calling people names is not going to help, I wonder when it will be possible for all Jews, not just Orthodox ones to be apart of klal yisroel. When will we stop judging others for being more or less religious than us?
George Zimmerman may the OJ Simpson of our time, but that isn’t going to change the fact that tomorrow is our time to be somber and reflect on the far worse and crazier things happening in the world that could change the world for the Jews. Mourning the beis hamikdash and begging for moshiach is too abstract for most people I know, but mourning the Holocaust is fairly easy.
Find out more on 4torah.com
I think calling Zimmerman the OJ of our time might be overdoing it. Casey Anthony maybe OJ of out time but Zimmerman wasn’t premetadated double murder.
I meant Orthodox Jewish Simpson of our time.
why do you hate mlm companies?
Because they are amalek, and caused the churban. And cause mlestation.
and they cause broke people like you to work for 50 years making someone else rich and fulfilling their dreams whiile you are slaving away DAN
one of your best posts, thanks heshy it was meaningful to read
anyone want to make alot of money and fire their boss!! i can show you how to do it in a few days
We know exactly what happened. The 17 year old kid did the first illegal action – threw a punch. That’s called starting a fight. Careful about starting a fight, you never know who’s gonna finish it – and how.
who are you talking to?
He only threw the punch because he was being followed, against police orders, by Zimmerman. Trayvon stood his ground.
Thanks alot
I kinda think the Hispanic man Zimmerman and Tishbav are similar in that they are both pointless distractions from reality.
Excellent post. People should take it to heart.
totally random comment but just throwing this out to all the people out there, what exactly is the point of not listening to music is it A-to help me reflect or B- a natural extension of my sadness and is there a point if its clearly not doing either? (sorry to break up all the satirical comments)
Excellent post. The Torah tells us that every person is made b’tzelem elokim, and for that reason alone, we should treat everyone like they have the potential for greatness. Our criticism of others should only go as far as it is likely to lead to a better outcome for *them* – making ourselves feel better is not an acceptable reason to give mussar.
Except if they are gay….then you kill them
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/177727/VIDEO%3A-Smash-Your-iPhone—Segula-To-Have-Children.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WBE-AWubwg8
Good post, Heshy. Does this include taking shots at Women of the Wall, or is that allowed?
If it’s not baseless it’s ok, for instance the women of the wall, gays, modern orthodoxy, and people who hold of triangle-K are all threats to the mesorah and therefore the hate is not baseless at all.
Baseless hate is more akin to those times you won’t daven at a certian shul because the rabbi says the entire prayer for Israel, the rabbi may be forced by his congergants or contract to do such blasphemous things and therefore the hatred is baseless.
George who? I kid. I, of course, know who Zimmerman is. What I don’t understand is why I should invest time and energy in it, or be expected – without having sat on the Jury being bored out of my mind by hours upon hours of inane testimony and attorney pontification – to have a reasonable informed opinion about it. Its not as though the media can be relied upon to provide a complete and accurate account of events. Whatever opinion I could express would have to carry with it so many qualifications, riders, and caveats as to render it meaningless. As for other people blowing hot wind – well, see, man is the cause of global warming.