Could you Stop Being Mr. Nice Guy for Just a Moment!?

In 2005 I spent a year in Israel studying in the holy city of Jerusalem. As anyone who’s ever been in  Jerusalem knows firsthand, it is a wonderful experience. Be it the unique ‘Yerushalmi’ characters, or the beautiful scenery and mountains, the houses built with “Yerushalmi white stones”, or the trillions of synagogues on every corner… and of course the great holiness and spirituality found only in the capitol of our country. It was a memorable year no doubt.
What made it all the more memorable, and not necessarily in a good way, was the disengagement of Gush Katif that took place that August which affected everyone around the country.
Honestly, I didn’t decide to dig up old sob stories due to lack of current sob stories… rather it was that particular episode and its relevance to our Parshah that caused that painful episode in Jewish history to ring a bell.
Do you remember how all over the world debates were held, ‘if and how should we demonstrate’?
“Nah, it’s none of my business. I’m not the kinda guy!” cried the ’softy’. “It will damage my projects”, said Mr. busy. “It will ruin my image as a peace loving and understanding person”, explained Mr. Politician. “Oh, making demonstrations and holding signs are patented by the weirdoes, I will not make a fool of myself”,
shouted Mr. Proper.
It was at gush Katif more than any event in recent history, where the lives of so many were on the balance, that this ‘it’s just not my thing’ was so painfully visible by so many good people.
You know, many historians as do many of us, judge the Jews who lived in America during the holocaust. ‘They should have made more protests! They should’ve gone on hunger strikes! They should’ve stopped traffic on the major highways! And I can’t put away the thought (forgive me for saying this) that Heaven forbid were history to repeat itself, our reaction wouldn’t be any different.
Just a shrug of ‘What could I do anyway’ and back to business. Maybe even a tear.
Well let me introduce you to one of the ’sweetest guys’ in history, our founding Father
Abraham. Kabbalah affectionately calls him the ‘attribute of kindness’, oh such a nice peace loving guy. But…
When G-d decided to destroy Sodom and Amorah, suddenly Mr.-nice-guy-couldn’t-hurt-a-fly stood up
and started talking tough to his Beloved G-d. “How could you! This is unfair! Yes, they are sinners and horrible people, but for the sake of the few good people…”
And once his demonstration was over, he was back to Mr. Sweetie pie, welcoming guests and doing acts of kindness… and it was no contradiction at all. For he wasn’t being kind because he liked to; he was doing the right thing. And when the right thing meant to throw away the kindness, then he did it.
And when G-d told him to slaughter his son, he was willing to go all the way. And this is Mr. Softy!
At this moment in history, we don’t need softies; we need visionaries and fighters. No more sweet talk…