Thursday, July 4, 2019

Fueling Machlokes

Fueling Machlokes
 Parshas Korach 5779

There's strong opinions there's passion and than there is fueled and manufactured machlokes used  to impose one side over the other. In the age of social media and the internet the debate gets more publicity as media platforms are used as springboards to fan the flames.

 Lately, several issues among frum Jews have brought out very passionate opinions from both sides, take one example the vaccine issue.

The vaccine debate has raged over the last year and with the help of social media it has fueled one of the largest divides in klal yisrael of recent years. Of course each side will claim its pikuach nefesh and justify its actions and to force its view on others. The measles epidemic no doubt contributed to take severe drastic measures.

Putting all that aside, is it a subject worth making a pirud in klal yisrael?
 Was it worth all the hate, and division it has caused among family, friends, neighbors?
Was it worth the sinas chinom and open  bizayon of gedolei yisrael?

Another example, members in some shuls have decided to improve in ruchniyus by taking upon themselves   the no talking in shul initiative.
There are halachos of proper decorum in a bais Hamedrash and praiseworthy are those who don't talk. Unfortunately the implementation of this in some shuls is done in a divisive way that has brought machlokes and caused a ongoing divide among shul members. Its not a reason to use it as a cause of machlokes.
Is it better to not talk to each other and have machlokes while participating in a no talking campaign?  These things have to be executed with chochma and seichel not to unilaterally force others into a situation that causes animosity, hate and division.

Rashi says Gadol haShalom why the dor hamabul was destoyed and not the dor haflaga. because they all got along even if they hated each other there was a superficial shalom which was also important.
 Lastly, social media and websites looking to get hits and generate traffic seize the opportunity to publicize and fuel the controversies and debate which fuels the fire of machlokes.

Shalom trumps everything, we can agree to disagree but the redifos public shaming and hate are not the yiddish way.
submitted.

4 comments:

  1. what about Giyus

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  2. An open and honest debate with both sides presented is the only way to heal this deep division in klal yisrael. There needs to be respect for each person’s choice.

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  3. Evry Machlokes needs a sponser as long as somebody is making money or getting something else from it the machlokes will not end

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  4. the frum news websites have become low trash tabloids with click bait shocking headlines and stories that frum yidden would never follow or look at on a secular website also engaging in gneivaas daas deception with bias reporting and paid content to push agendas but tbey kasher themselves with pictures of gedolim.

    ReplyDelete