The Depth of Leadership: The Danger of Conceding Jerusalem and a Conspiracy of the Wicked That Does Not Count
Lesson No. 59 | Monday, Parashas Behar-Bechukosai, 18 Iyar, Lag BaOmer 5756
A piercing discourse clarifying the immense danger of conceding the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, even when the move is backed by influential leaders and rabbis. Through the stories of Yarovam ben Nevat and Shevna, it is revealed how the love of money and honor can drive a person out of their mind, and why the steadfast stance of King Chizkiyahu proves that a majority favoring compromise does not determine the outcome.
We sometimes witness situations where people surrender to enemies and give up everything, and some say, "What they are doing is not so terrible, after all, we are talking about great rabbis, the leaders of the generation." Perhaps those leaders take all the Torah scholars under their patronage, and some say that we are forbidden to interfere. Indeed, we are certainly the lowest people in this generation, the smallest blades of grass that could possibly be. But nevertheless, a person can be simple, the simplest person in the world, and if he sees a terrible mistake happening to a great person—he must fight, protest, and do everything in his power.
Regarding this, Rabbi Chanina bar Pappa says in the Talmud:
"Anyone who derives benefit from this world without a blessing, it is as if he robs Hashem and the Congregation of Israel... and he who says, 'There is no transgression,' is a companion to a destroyer."
Whoever sees an injustice and says, "There is no transgression here," is a companion to a destroyer. The Talmud explains that the "destroyer" refers to Yarovam ben Nevat, who corrupted Israel from their Father in Heaven. Until Yarovam, the Jewish people suffered and absorbed all the harsh judgments and calamities from the sin of one calf—the Golden Calf they made in the wilderness. Then came Yarovam ben Nevat, that chief rabbi to whom everyone else seemed like mere grass of the field, who taught novel Torah insights that no ear had ever heard, and he added two more calves for us. Since then, all the calamities, disasters, and holocausts that befall the Jewish people draw their negative spiritual sustenance from these calves.
Who is at the Head? The Secret of Yarovam's Missed Opportunity
Hashem sees great tzaddikim who make terrible mistakes and concede Jerusalem. Despite everything, Hashem Himself descended and revealed Himself to Yarovam ben Nevat, grabbed him by his garment, and said to him:
"Repent, and I, you, and the son of Yishai (King David) will stroll together in the Garden of Eden."
Hashem promised Yarovam that if he would do teshuvah (repentance), he would be greater than King David. After all, the more sins a person has committed, the greater a master of teshuvah he becomes when he repents. But Yarovam asked one question: "Who will be at the head?" Will I be at the head, or David? Hashem answered him: "The son of Yishai will be at the head."
The moment Yarovam heard this, he refused to do teshuvah. The conclusion from this is clear: If a person intends to do teshuvah only to be at the head—then the son of Yishai is at the head. A person must do teshuvah with simplicity. If afterward, Heaven makes him the head of the masters of teshuvah, it will happen naturally, but that must not be the goal.
Turning a Blind Eye and the Disqualification of Leadership
In Tractate Sanhedrin (page 26a), it is told of rabbis who were sent to intercalate the leap year outside the Land of Israel, because there was a decree of annihilation by the Romans in the Land of Israel. Reish Lakish came to Rabbi Yochanan and asked to invalidate their calculations. Why? Because those men were suspected regarding the laws of the Sabbatical year—they turned a blind eye to people who worked the land during the Shmittah year.
Reish Lakish said: People who turn a blind eye to things that everyone can see are wrong, their calculations are invalid! Even if they know how to calculate perfectly and are experts in Jewish law, they cannot be relied upon.
If there it was speaking about turning a blind eye to one person who worked during Shmittah, how much more so when it comes to turning a blind eye to the fate of the entire Jewish people! When one turns a blind eye to the danger of annihilation, Heaven forbid, or concedes Jerusalem, the calculations of those leaders are completely invalidated. Regarding this, the Talmud states the well-known rule: "A conspiracy of the wicked does not count in the tally."
Chizkiyahu vs. Shevna: When the Majority Concedes Jerusalem
The Talmud asks: What is this "conspiracy of the wicked"? The answer is found in the story of King Chizkiyahu and Shevna.
Shevna was a chief rabbi and a tremendous Rosh Yeshiva. He had one hundred and thirty thousand students. In contrast, King Chizkiyahu had only one hundred and ten thousand students. The absolute majority of Torah scholars and the great yeshivas were with Shevna.
When Sancheiriv, the King of Assyria, came to besiege Jerusalem, he offered a "peace" proposal: "Just surrender, let me conquer Jerusalem and be king here, and I will not kill you." Shevna, who was in favor of peace at any cost, immediately agreed. He did not care if Sancheiriv would be the king over Jerusalem. He wrote a note, placed it on an arrow, and shot it into Sancheiriv's camp: "Shevna and his faction have made peace." We are for peace, we will open the gates for you.
In contrast, Chizkiyahu and his faction adamantly refused. Chizkiyahu said: "I will not hand Jerusalem over to the nations, even if it is the best of the nations." He relied on prayer and on a miracle.
But Chizkiyahu was terribly afraid. He saw that facing him stood a tremendous Rav with 130,000 students who was ready to surrender. Chizkiyahu feared: Perhaps Hashem will follow the majority? After all, the Halacha dictates that we follow the majority, and if the majority is handed over to Sancheriv, perhaps we too will be handed over to him and will not merit miracles?
A Conspiracy of the Wicked is Not Counted
At that critical moment, the prophet Yeshayahu came to Chizkiyahu and said to him:
"Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' concerning all that this people call a conspiracy."
The prophet calmed Chizkiyahu and established a foundation for all generations: Let there be great Torah scholars, let there be one hundred and thirty thousand students, let there be one hundred and thirty yeshivas... but if they give up on Jerusalem—then it is a conspiracy of the wicked! And a conspiracy of the wicked is not counted. Their majority is not considered at all in Heaven.
Shevna's end was bitter and abrupt. He was not satisfied with his status, but wanted to hew out a grave for himself on Mount Zion together with the kings of the House of David. The prophet rebuked him, and tzaraas (leprosy) broke out on him. When he finally went out to Sancheriv with his students, the city gate miraculously closed behind him, and his students remained inside. Sancheriv, who thought that Shevna had deceived him because he arrived alone, killed him cruelly and dragged him over thorns.
The Gemara concludes that Shevna was a pursuer of money and pleasures. The lust for money is the most dangerous thing in the world. For money and honor, a person is willing to sell his people and the city that Hashem has chosen. We pray every day, "Who spreads a shelter of peace over us and over all His people Israel and over Jerusalem," and we bless, "Builder of Jerusalem." If a person is capable of abandoning Jerusalem, it indicates a terrible and awful flaw in the root of his soul, a flaw that has no tikkun (rectification).
Part 2 of 4 — Lesson No. 59