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Posted June 19, 2009, by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer to Maqom's home page for information about previous passages.

BH

BASELESS HATRED IN THE YERUSHALMI
© Judith Z. Abrams, 2009

In recent weeks, we have seen how destructive hatred can be. Unsurprisingly, the Yerushalmi, whose compositors experienced their share of baseless hatred, has something to say on the topic.

The First Temple was destroyed only because they worshipped idols, practiced fornication and committed murder. And so it was in the case of the Second Temple as well.

During the time of the Second Temple they devoted themselves to Torah and were meticulous about tithes. On what account did they go into exile? Because they loved money and hated one another without cause. This teaches you that hatred of one another is evil before God and Scripture deems it equivalent to idolatry, licentiousness and bloodshed (T. Menachot 13:22).

Rabbi Zeirra, Rabbi Jacob bar Aha and Rabbi Abonah were in session. They said: Baseless hatred is worse, for the first Temple was rebuilt while the Second Temple was not. (Y. Yoma 1:1)

Discussion Questions:

  1. The "big three" sins: bloodshed, sexual immorality and murder, are found in many places in rabbinic literature. These are easy to understand: they do cause irreparable harm. Yet baseless hatred is the thing that is worse than them all. Why do you think this is so? What could it have been in the sages' experiences that taught them this?
         
  2. Why is greed paired baseless hatred? How can this guide us in the difficult financial times we face today?
          
  3. In Y. Peah 1:1 we learn that gossip is also paired with the "big three" sins. That gives us a different "trifecta" of sins: gossip, greed and baseless hatred. How do these three match up with idolatry, licentiousness and murder? Will you change your behaviour based on these passages?