[Be-Ahavah U-Be-Emunah – Korach
5773 – translated by R. Blumberg]
Halachic
opportunism is a phrase that contains within it an internal contradiction.
What,
after all, is “opportunism”? It means checking out what works, what is pleasing
and popular. Halachah, by contrast, is divine, eternal, absolute, firmly
entrenched.
Every individual
has goals and ideals. Yet what can he do when they are smashed up on the
boulder of reality? Opportunism suggests: Very simple, make maximum use of opportunities,
while foregoing or changing your initial goals in favor of what is easily attainable.
Change your loyalties in accordance with the shifting likelihood of success.
According
to this, when there is a contradiction between Halachah and reality, halachic opportunism
will say: Reality wins. Halachah has to be adapted to it.
There are
therefore sophisticated methods for officially continuing to tow the line. In
fact, the heretics in the universities claim that that’s what the Sages of the
Mishnah did. For example, those heretics claim, the sages of the Mishnah
considered the law of the rebellious son (in which the son must be killed in
anticipation of the hideousness of his future acts, Devarim 21:18) to be
inhumane, old fashioned, and in need of change, so they invented new conditions:
in order for this law to be applicable, for example, the parents of the child
must be identical in appearance and height – something which is obviously
impossible. By such means, they elegantly neutralized that law. Those same
heretics hold that the Sages of the Talmud did the same thing to the laws of
the Mishnah, and so forth – G-d have mercy on them.
In just
that way, halachic opportunism changes one’s loyalty to the laws of the Torah according
to their shifting chances of success. In other words, according to the level of
popular support. That’s how it works: changing one’s positions in accordance
with one’s relative strength and in accordance with public opinion polls.
This is somewhat
reminiscent of the incident involving Rachamim Kalanter (Kalanterism), a member
of the religious “Mizrachi Workers’ Party" which, in 5713, sought to
depose Jerusalem’s mayor because of his support of establishing a Reform synagogue.
Kalanter changed his allegiance and supported the mayor in exchange for an
appointment as Vice Mayor in charge of religious affairs. In order to prevent
such Kalanterism, a law was passed that a Knesset member must leave the Knesset
before being chosen to a new party.
Here is an
example of religious opportunism: Many dwellers of Zion do not love conversions
that demand undertaking Mitzvah observance. They want to change the definition of
conversion to mean, “belonging to the Jewish People”. For them, “Your people
are my people” (Ruth 1,16) suffices, without “your G-d is my G-d” (ibid.). This
constitutes not just a change in the definition of conversion, but in the
definition of the Jewish People.
Another
example: It is a fact that many girls enlist in the army against the rulings of
the Chief Rabbinate. The simple solution? A new ruling that says that this is
all right.
A third
example: There is a lot of filth in modern culture, but the public loves it with
all its warts. Hence we must rule that all is permissible, perhaps with a few
minor changes as a sort of fig leaf. Any interesting film or book is
permissible, because, when all is said and done, it’s just “culture”. Even if
it’s got a bit of heresy, a bit of forbidden gossip, a bit of pornography…all
in all, those things are lost in the permissible majority. No big deal.
As for us,
however, the disciples of Moshe, when there is a contradiction between Halachah
and reality, we say: “Let G-d decide!” And why is that? Because G-d also determines
the divine nature of the soul.
And what
exists in Halachah in black letters exists deep within us, in the letters of
our soul. Israel and the Torah are one. Indeed, that is a spiritual concept. Whoever
does not delve deeply into issues of faith, risks falling prey to halachic
opportunism. I am not writing this for the halachic opportunist. He will not
understand. He will think he is sanctifying the name of G-d. I am writing this
for us, so that we do not get confused.
Maran Ha-Rav
Kook quotes the words of the Zohar: “The Devil begins by bringing people together,
but ultimately creates divisiveness. Holiness begins divisively but ultimately
brings people together” (Orot Ha-Kodesh 2:440-441, and 1:15). Opposites cannot
be attached together.
We do not
go “whichever way the wind [Ruach] blows”. Rather, we set sail in the direction
of “My spirit [Ruach] which shall be set upon you and My words which I have put
in your mouth” (Yeshayahu 59:20).
