Getzy Markowitz
Sep 11, 2008
In an imperfect world a famed man can be defamed. A practitioner of benevolence can be terrorized by malevolence. A man of refreshing candor becomes the victim of violent slander. Yet while I knew of the libel against him, I also knew that in good times and not such good times, we Jews inquire of our fellows' welfare. In the most precarious of conditions, we will still be curious of our brethren's well being. Resting my palm upon his arm, and with near sarcastic thoughts, I asked how he was. With his humility, integrity, and sincerity, he responded, "the grace of G-d." A wholehearted answer from a man who walks wholeheartedly with G-d, and who with relentless goodness makes the world a home for G-dliness.
Faced with horrific aspersion, he maintains propriety with devout assertion. With venomous assaults on his person, he continues to be a kind and different kind of person.
But no good deed goes unpunished, and no act of charity goes unresented.
For a politician with presidential ambitions to attack people he knows nothing about is just sad politics. For gentiles to campaign against the gentle Jew, well that's just history. However, for Jews to conform to the same despicable standard is an abomination against the G-d who holds us to higher standards. It sickens me to the core to observe my brethren defying their own core beliefs. How people commanded to be a light unto the world choose to darken it out of their baseless resentment and reprehensible bitterness.
That a liberal union conspired in a libelous plot is hardly shocking. However, when an Orthodox Union joins the faction promulgating heinous erroneous facts, this orthodox Rabbi cannot hold his silence and nor should any other.
The great Rabbi Joseph B. Soleveitchik, himself a victim of trumped-up accusations, would quote his uncle Rabbi Meir Berlin. Rabbi Berlin relayed an answer that Rabbi Chaim of Brisk supplied when asked what the function of a Rabbi was: "To redress the grievances of those who are abandoned and alone, to protect the dignity of the poor, and to save the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor."
What then are Rabbis and leaders to do for people who redress those grievances, who righteously shelter the poor, and who subdue the oppression of others?
Mr. Aaron Rubashkin, like his biblical namesake, loves and pursues peace. For the sake of justice and the sanctification of G-d's name, let us do the same.
