Q&A: Torah Scholars Increase Peace. Is That a Joke? Or What?
Torah Scholars Increase Peace. Is That a Joke? Or What?
Question
I see around me many Jews who hope for the good, who hope for an end to the division within the people, who hope—if not for baseless love—then at least for a reduction of baseless hatred [because of which, according to the Sages’ interpretation, we were exiled from our land for 2,000 years…]. And some of these Jews are not exactly from the first rank of the Torah scholars of the generation.
By contrast, I see many who are supposedly Torah scholars, who according to the words of the Sages increase peace in the world, spreading evil, conflict, and great hatred among the people, becoming extreme and attacking a Sabbath-observant prime minister—and specifically in the Torah portion of Korach… “and let him not be like Korach and his congregation.”
It is really strange, seemingly. Someone who is more serious about religion should be more likely to increase peace in the world, should fear “and let him not be like Korach and his congregation,” should seek peace and even pursue it. But in actual practice, on the ground, it often seems that this is דווקא the domain of those among whom piles of Torah learners are less common…
Something is strange… an upside-down world? Those above below, and those below above?
I would be glad if the Rabbi has a logical answer…
Answer
Once a baal teshuva asked me why rabbis are always fighting with one another. I told him that they have more values that are significant to them, and therefore they fight.
That does not mean the fights are justified, or that they are conducted correctly and properly. But regardless of the justifications, this phenomenon does have a logical explanation, and that is what you asked for. Torah scholars care about values and public interests, both because the Torah and its values matter to them and because they are leaders of the public. Therefore they fight harder and in more battles than others.
And as for the statement that Torah scholars increase peace in the world, that is like saying Yasser Arafat was the world champion of peace agreements. He violated every agreement and therefore signed another one, and thus he was responsible for the greatest number of peace agreements. He increased peace in the world.
“Torah scholars increase peace in the world”—and there is no repeated inclusion except to exclude