Standing by the Truth—the Ultimate Cure for Jew-Hatred

With the Paris Olympics approaching, the world turns its eyes to the stadiums and arenas of Europe, eagerly anticipating the formidable contests of strength, speed and athleticism to come. However, halfway across the globe, a very different type of spectacle is capturing news headlines: the battle for public opinion during Israel’s war for survival.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Netanyahu descended into the halls of the US Congress, where his highly-anticipated speech received roaring applause from within and unruly protests outside.  During his hour-long oration, Bibi described how Israel is besieged on all sides by Iranian-funded proxies: Hamas from the South-West, Hezbollah and other Syrian terror groups from the North and the Houthis from the South-East. 

The question in my mind and the minds of many others was how could the prime minister leave Israel at a time when his country needs him most? As the commander in chief of the armed forces, the IDF needs him there on the ground. The answer may lie in a Talmudic passage about our obligation to speak out against injustice at an ancient sporting ritual. 

Recently, while I was on a trip to Italy, I toured the famed Roman Colosseum, where captives in antiquity were forced to fight towering, ravenous beasts in front of thousands of cheering spectators. Contemporary Rabbis debated in the Talmud whether Jewish people were allowed to attend the barbaric gladiator spectacle.

In tractate Avodah Zarah page 18, one group of rabbis decreed that a Jew is forbidden to enter the stadium because that individual’s attendance is tantamount to being an accessory to murder. The Jew’s patronage is supporting the bloodshed of an innocent person. But the minority opinion of Rabbi Natan permits visiting the stadium. He stated that through the ardent shouts and pleading of one moral dissenter, the condemned might be able to be rescued.

So picture this scene: A lone and righteous Jew stands in the bleachers amid drunken throngs callously carried away by their unrestrained lust for gore. When the time comes to vote on the gladiator’s fate, all thumbs are pointing down, condemning the peasant to death, except for Rabbi Natan’s thumb, which points to the heavens.

Might his small act of protest really make a difference in a sea of lies? – Perhaps. But the important thing for Rabbi Natan is that the voice of truth has an advocate present.

This opinion is one which has great application to events of today. Israel’s position on the world stage is analogous to the poor gladiator’s dilemma thousands of years ago. Sentenced to death by corrupt officials, the gladiator’s only recourse was the feeble court of public opinion. Aside from the US, the world votes down Israel at every turn, and condemns it’s very right to defend itself. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and the ICJ has called Israel an Illegal occupying entity. Amid a sea of global excoriation, Bibi is like the lone dissenter advocating for Israel’s right to exist.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, taught a similar lesson. The Rebbe, whose 30th Yahrzeit was observed this year, offered guidance and advice to many of Israel’s political, military and social leaders including Prime Minister Netanyahu. Bibi met the Rebbe on several occasions during his political career, most famously when he was appointed Israel’s ambassador to the UN. The Rebbe told Bibi that “you will go into a house of lies, but remember that in a hall of perfect darkness, if you light one small candle, its precious light will be seen from afar, by everyone. Your mission is to light a candle for truth and for the Jewish people.”

When justice fails us, all we have is the power of our voice. If we have the platform to speak out, we must do so. We must be the lone voice of truth in the hall of lies. 

But we also have the ability to be beacons of light and dispel much darkness. Our actions, no matter how small they may seem, have the power to make a significant impact. In addition to contacting our representatives in government and expressing our point of view on social media, we can also light Shabbat candles, give Tzedakah, wrap Tefillin and perform other mitzvot which bring a positive, spiritual light into the world. 

So, let us each do our part to illuminate the world. Through our collective efforts, we can create a world where kindness and goodness prevail. In doing so, we embody the teachings of Rabbi Natan and the Rebbe, who dedicated their lives to spreading light and truth to all of humanity. Let us carry forward this mission, transforming our world into a place where true justice and righteousness thrive. Each of us has the ability to be the lone voice of reason, no matter how loud the antisemites and Israel-bashers may be.

The power of one person’s voice, when it is pointing others toward the light, is immeasurable. This is a time for each of us to shout the truth from the rooftops. 

Rabbi Areyah