There are two Jews in the news today. Both of them are controversial figures. One is Ariel Sharon and the other is Jack Abramoff.
It is a sad day for Klal Yisroel.
Let me begin with Jack Abramoff. He is an Orthodox, Kipa wearing Jew. His actions, however, have caused a mighty Chilul HaShem. It causes me great sadness and grief when someone who is so visibly Jewish so publicly flaunts the law.
It is imperative to promote a proper response to any public situation on the part of Torah Jewry. If an observant Jew creates a public Chilul HaShem, we must condemn it no uncertain terms. As representatives of Torah with our mandate to be a light unto the nations, we must never allow for apologetics as is sometimes the case when one of our own is discovered in some wrong doing. When Kavod HaTorah is jeopardized by the actions of someone who is identified as an observant Jew, it requires a swift and uncompromising condemnation.
That being said, we must still be cautious making any serious judgments about an individual before knowing all the facts. But the facts that have come out so far do not look good.
I have learned that indeed Mr. Abramoff has pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding lenders and then purchasing a casino which he immediately plundered using some of that money to set up potential perks for members of congress.
As Jews we must be clear how we feel about it and condemn his actions from the rooftops. I am sorry for what Mr. Abramoff and especially his family must be going through. But he made his bed. He must now sleep in it. ...very sad indeed.
But the greater tragedy is that of Prime Mister Sharon.
Ariel Sharon's situation is very grave. His chances for a full recovery are extremely slim. The Jewish people are about to lose of a great figure on the Jewish scene (at least as an active player, if not God forbid worse) ...a true founding father of the State of Israel.
Ariel Sharon has been a powerful figure in Israel since the founding days of the State. He is probably the greatest general in its entire military history. And that says a lot when one considers that the two other great generals were Yitzhak Rabin and Moshe Dayan. But it was Sharon and his “Patton” like tactics who turned defeat into victory during the Yom Kippur War through sheer determination.
He commanded the respect of the entire nation then. His foray into politics was at not as popular and after a series of political ups and downs and he was pretty much written off. But that is not the end of the story. In a series of political events not the least of which was an in increase in Palestinian terror in the form of constant suicide bombings, the people of Israel decided to make this tough old general Prime Minister.
I had my issues with PM Sharon. I have always been inclined to reject the strident politics of the political right, who advocated keeping all land and if need be, fighting to the death to keep it. I saw Prime Minister Sharon as belonging to this group. In my view the sanctity of life supercedes the sanctity of land and I have always supported which ever path would save lives.
But to my great surprise Prime Minister Sharon rose to the occasion. He realized what the stakes were and he became a peace-maker. To the great dismay of those who elected him thinking he would continue on their path, he did what in my view is the right thing instead of the right wing thing.
And the public loved him for it. His popularity was so great that he decided to bolt his party that tried so hard to pull him back to the hard right, and create a new one: Kadima. Polls just before his stroke showed that he was poised to be re-elected Prime Minister only this time without the encumbrances of his old party. I believe that the type of sheer determination he displayed in the Yom Kippur war may have finally enabled the elusive peace that our people so desperately need.
Then suddenly he had this debilitating stroke which all indications say has ended his career. This is a sad day. While it is too early to eulogize him is not too early to sing his praises. His absence from the political scene will be missed. He had endeared himself to the American President and the relationship between the two countries has never been better. Through the Gaza disengagement he had turned hatred by his detractors on the world scene into a sort of admiration and even praise. I even heard some positive comments from Arab leaders today. He knew what he was doing and I supported him. He is one of the last survivors of the founding generation of the State of Israel. His life was dedicated to serving his people and he put his own life on the line many times doing so.
He will have an everlasting legacy. But today is a very sad day for Jews.
