Rubashkin Trial is an Example of Eisav-Yaakov Relations
The Rubashkin trial and its outcome is a microcosm of the Jewish presence in Galut Edom. Eisav acts friendly to us until the right moment when it pounces, and it pounces hard.
This verse in this week's Perasha is most notable:
וַיִּשְׂטֹם עֵשָׂו, אֶת-יַעֲקֹב, עַל-הַבְּרָכָה, אֲשֶׁר בֵּרְכוֹ אָבִיו; וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו בְּלִבּוֹ, יִקְרְבוּ יְמֵי אֵבֶל אָבִי, וְאַהַרְגָה, אֶת-יַעֲקֹב אָחִי.
And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.'
We have a halacha that must be treated like a halacha: Eisav hates Yaakov. He hides it well until the right moment. Eisav waits for such a moment, as the above verse shows.
The Rubashkin trial, its verdict, and its aftermath shows this in clear form. And there's another trial yet to come. Eisav found his moment.
I'm not saying that mistakes weren't made by the company. There clearly were. But to convict this man on so many counts, and railroading an innocent and honorable man to jail, can only be described in supernatural terms as Eisav finding his moment.
And the trial is not the worst of it. It's about to be getting a lot rougher for Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin. Some websites report that he was already treated badly. Eisav has found his moment.
And, if you think they're not out after you too, you're wrong. We need to be as Yashar in our dealings as possible, but even if we are, if they want you, they can get you. It started with FBI raids in New York/New Jersey and continues in Iowa/South Dakota. Eisav has found his moment.
My family drove to Seattle this past summer, and we stopped in Sioux Falls to pray Shaharit. I was not privy to the fact that the trial of a religious Jew would be taking place there soon thereafter. If I had only known about the trial that was supposed to take place there a mere few months later, I would have prayed much harder. I don't know if it would have helped or not - only Hashem knows.
The Rubashkin family has gone through a hard year, and they need our Tefilot.
No matter what your opinion is on whether he is innocent or guilty, our attitude CANNOT be "Oh, well, you do the crime, you do the time." NO! An honorable Jewish soul is in the Beit Ha'asurim! We must pray for his release.
Tehillim 37:32-34:
לב צוֹפֶה רָשָׁע, לַצַּדִּיק; וּמְבַקֵּשׁ, לַהֲמִיתוֹ
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
לג יְהוָה, לֹא-יַעַזְבֶנּוּ בְיָדוֹ; וְלֹא יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ, בְּהִשָּׁפְטוֹ
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor suffer him to be condemned when he is judged.
לד קַוֵּה אֶל-יְהוָה, וּשְׁמֹר דַּרְכּוֹ, וִירוֹמִמְךָ, לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ
בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה.
34 Wait for the LORD, and keep His way, and He will exalt thee to inherit the land; {N} when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
posted by yaak @ 11/16/2009 05:08:00 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Thank you very much for writing about this. I know the entire family personally (and extended family), and this is such an injustice. Hashem gave the Jews the ability to always prosper in whatever country they would find themselves. It's a shame that other 'Jews' and 'trouble-makers' just don't get it, because they are estranged from the vibrancy of their mesorah. A family that epitomizes Avraham and Sarah, our ancestors, in their welcoming all Jews, amazing chessed and tzedaka, and just plain warmth, is treated in America, just like the country they left to settle here.
Please spare me,
It's not just that Rubashkin was involved in treating his employees worse than animals, he didn't care how many Jewish businesses he squashed with his unfair business practices. I personally know small business owners who almost driven out of business by Rubashkin. Being a big baal tsedakah doesn't with money earned in this way doesn't make him a tsadik. He's no Jewish martyr.
My apologies for the anger above comment--regardless of what he did, you are right about the witch hunt and multiple counts against him. I was writing from personal pain at the chilul hashem that he caused both within the Jewish community and without, and for the pain he caused to people close to me with his actions. That having been said, nobody deserves to be treated with abuse by criminal justice system.
Anonymous Nov 17, 07:52:00 PM 2009
You don't know a thing! You should be ashamed and should apologize to Sholom Mordechai and his entire family!
I think with all the bad that chabad has been suffering in public
rubaskin
india
cars driving into chabad houses
children of shilichim falling from windows etc
perhaps there is need for chabad to do some soul searching.
Is chabad today what the Rebbe invisioned?
CHABAD HOUSES THAT ARE NO LONGER HOUSES BUT MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUILDINGS WHERE THE NON FRUM DONORS ARE WORSHIPED( BUT DONT ASK THEM TO KEEP SHABBOS }WHERE THE SHLUCHIM ARE IN COMPETITION WITH EACHOTHER WHO CAN BUILD THE MOST EXPENSIVE BUILDING.
IN HOW MANY CHABADS DO PEOPLE DRIVE TO WEEK AFTER WEEK TO BECAUSE THERE IS A GOOD CHOLENT
GOOD REASON TO BE MECHALEL SHABBAT???
PERHAPS AFTER YEARS OF THIS IT IS TIME TO TELL THE YID TO KEEP SHABBAT AND KEEP HIS DONATIONS
BUT YOU CANT
NOW YOU HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING TO KEEP UP
PERHAPS CHABAD WASNT SET UP FOR THERE TO BE AN I ONLY EAT RUBASKIN MONOPOLY
WHO KNOWS? PERHAPS I AM WRONG BUT I AM SURE HASHEM IS TRYING TO TELL CHABAD SOMETHING THAT IT SEEMS THEY DONT WANT TO HEAR
Just for the record. I am sorry to say but I believe based on discussed events when this first began that the real people behind this Sinah were (at least initially) Jews, who I think meant to destroy or weaken Rubashkins mainly because of money and power. Similar to what happened at the end of the Second Bais Hamikdash.
Yaak,
You know I love you, but man are you way off on this one. You have obviously never been a business owner or you would have a different tune to what he didn't know about.
He may be a wonderful Ba'al Chesed and Family man, I will not dispute that issue.
ANYONE who has run their own company knows what they are doing with their employees. the laws are clear, ther are regular inspections and warnings issued. I had issues having my own 15 year old work for me, you think he didn't know it was illegal to hire illegals? nareshkeit. One of the strictest issues an employer deals with is the employment agency. This is just a small part of what he violated and there is no doubt in my mind that as big a tzadik he may be at home, at work he was trying to cut corners ILLEGALLY and got caught. To claim Eisav soneih yisroel is a sham and pathetic attempt at furthuring a victim attitude to Judaism.
You may feel free to yell at me on Shabbos about this. :)
You may feel free to yell at me on Shabbos about this. :)
BL"N, will do. :)
Neshama:
"is treated in America, just like the country they left to settle here"
this quote is disgusting and an insult to all Jews and Americans. Were they taken in the middle of the night and beaten? were they put in siberia with little clothing? were any of them kileed by a mob or the police? I'm pretty sure the answer is no to all of these and to say what you said disgraces all the yidden who suffered in those countries. You have become so spoiled here in the States you compare an Americnan arrest and justice system to Poland/Russia? May hashem have rachamim that you never experience an arrest in those countries. But you may want to watch an old movie called "Midnight Exp[ress" and you'll see a big difference between our system and others.
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