Bas Kol - Epilogue

Hiskatnus Hadoros, misquoted pesukim, missing the point, probably on purpose, twisting stories to make them look like they favor all this. Are we, at the end of the day, victims of some kind of mind control? Is religion truly the opiate of the masses? Must we always tow the party line, to use a political term? Has our religion, the religion of Emes, become just a political means of controlling the people?

I don't know. But I do know that many Chareidim, Yeshivish people, and the like, pretend the outside world has no effect on the frum one. This is pure sheker. Look at the political climate of the the US. People belonging to certain parties are happy to tow their party's line. Just tell them what to do, and they'll do it, since it MUST be for the good of the many. Why think when we have religious and political figures to do the thinking for us?

However, putting all this together, the price of being frum, the cost of living in frum neighborhoods, having to follow certain minhagim and halachas that seem unnecessary, the state of the Jewish Nation, the hatred of the chareidim toward everyone who is not like them. I had a Rosh Yeshiva whose "hashkafa" sessions were hate filled tirades against the Conservative congregation that dominated his neighborhood, a neighborhood to which he had come in order to do kiruv. I can tell you, he is not, to this day, doing a particularly good job of it. 90% of the Jewish Population there hates him. And I mean, really hate him!

Here's where I think things went, and are still going, wrong: The possuk says "do not deviate right or left." This is not just an admonition against not being frum, or becoming an Oved Avoda Zara. This is an admonition to not becoming too "frum" as well. It's an admonition that when you become too fanatical, you lose people faster and faster.

I'm a big fan of Star Wars. In the very original one from 1977, there is a scene that I think succinctly puts this into perspective. Princess Leia is brought before Grand Moff Tarkin, who proceeds to boast about the Death Star's destructive power and that no one in the galaxy will dare oppose the Emperor now that he has the power to destroy an entire planet with one blast. Princess Leia comes back with a particularly sharp retort (using a a false British accent, of course). She says to Tarkin, "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." This is what has historically happened the Frumkeit in general. The more the grip has been tightened, the more people slipped through. People need guidance, loving guidance, not control. If only the Rabbanim in general would have been, historically, more confident in their abilities as leaders and been open to listening to concerns, would we be in the situation in which we find ourselves today? Divrei Chachamim B'Nachas Nishmaim - the words of the wise are heard softly, which means they need to be spoken softly to be heard softly. Instead, concerns were not taken into consideration, and many angry Jews decided to just leave the fold completely or deviate to all sorts of directions, not just Yamin or Smol, right or left. I would like to end this little tirade with a poem with which most people to I've spoken to are familiar. It's entitled "Moshiach's Hat:"

'T was the night of the Geulah, -- And in every single Shtiebel
Sounds of Torah could be heard -- Coming from every kind of Yeedel.
This one in English, -- Some in Hebrew, some in Yiddish.
Some saying P'shat -- And some saying a Chiddish.
And up in Shamayim--The Aibishter decreed:
"The time has come -- For My children to be freed.
"Rouse the Moshiach -- From his heavenly berth.
Have him get in his chariot, -- And head down to earth.
"The Moshiach got dressed -- And with a heart full of glee,
Went down to earth and entered -- the first Shtiebel he did see.
"I am the Moshiach! -- Hashem has heard your plea!
Your Geulah has come! -- It's time to go free!
"They all stopped their learning; -- This was quite a surprise.
And they look at him carefully, -- With piercing sharp eyes
"He's not the Moshiach!" -- Said one with a grin,
"Just look at his hat, -- At the pinches and brim!"
"That's right!" cried another -- With a grimace and frown,
"Whoever heard of Moshiach, -- With a brim that's turned down?"
"Well," thought Moshiach, -- "If this is the rule,
I'll turn my brim up -- Before I go to the next shul."
So he walked right on over -- To the next shul in town.
Sure to be accepted, -- Since his brim was no longer down.
"I'm, the Moshiach!" he cried, -- As he began to enter
But the Jews wanted to know first -- If he was Left Right or Center
"Your clothes are so black!" -- They cried out in fright.
"You can't be Moshiach--You're much too far right!"
"If you want to be Moshiach, -- You must be properly outfitted.
"So they replaced his black hat -- With a Kippah that was knitted.
Wearing his new Kippah, -- Moshiach went out and said:
"No difference to me -- What I wear on my head.
"So he went to the next shul, -- For his mission was dear.
But he was getting frustrated -- With the Yidden down hear.
"I'm the Moshiach!" he cried, -- And they all stopped to stare,
And a complete eerie stillness -- Filled up the air.
"You're the Moshiach?! -- Just imagine that!
Whoever heard of Moshiach -- Without a black hat?"
"But I do have a hat!" -- The Moshiach then said.
So he pulled it right out -- And plunked it down on his head.
Then the shul started laughing, -- And one said " Where's your kop?
You can't have Moshiach -- With a brim that's turned up!
If you want to be Moshiach -- And be accepted in this town,
"Put some pinches in your hat -- And turn that brim down!"
Moshiach walked out and said: -- "I guess my time hasn't come.
I'll just return -- To where I came from.
"So he went to his chariot, -- But as he began to enter,
All sorts of Jews appeared -- From the Left, Right, and Center.
"Please wait - do not leave. -- It's all their fault!" they said,
And they pointed to each other -- And to what was on each other's head.
Moshiach just looked sad -- And said, " You don't understand."
And then started up his chariot -- To get out of this land.
"Yes, it's very wonderful -- That you all learn Torah,
But you seem to have forgotten -- A crucial part of our Mesorah.
"What does he mean?" -- "What's he talking about?"
And they all looked bewildered, -- And they all began to shout.
Moshiach looked back and answered, -- "The first place to start,
Is to shut up your mouths -- And open your hearts.
"To each of you, certain Yidden -- Seem too Frum or too Frei,
But all Yidden are beloved -- in the Aibishter's eye."
And on his way up he shouted: -- " If you want me to come,
Try working a little harder -- On some Ahavat Chinam!"

Next up: Were the Jedi Yeshivish? (I've been wanting to do this one for a LOOOONNNNGGGG time!!:)