
When Arabs murder Jewish women and children on a daily basis, the world continues blithely on its way. But when Jews, once and only once, may have set fire to a house leading to the deaths of an Arab family, the entire world is shocked by the terrible crime and demands that those guilty be found and punished.
Truthfully, the world is on the mark, because the Jews are a most moral nation, an ethical people. Its Torah commands that it "not murder". More is demanded from Jews than is demanded from any other nation. One black spot on an otherwise pure white garment spoils the entire piece of clothing, while that same black spot on a garment that is already covered with them makes no difference at all.
Religious Zionism, moral, pioneering and idealistic, is an integral part of the Jewish People. When a tenured professor incites against all Religious Zionists, no one reacts, but when a few at-risk, troubled youth spray graffiti with an inciteful message on a wall, the entire country is up in arms. "How could this happen" our leaders say, wringing their hands. And they are right. This kind of thing must not happen. Absolutely not. It stains the entire moral and ethical sector of Religious Zionists.
When young people are suspected of setting fire to a house resulting in a family being burned to death, all of Religious Zionism is guilty of being the community from which these youths sprang. And Religious Zionism does not shirk its responsibility vis a vis its children, even if they are estranged. That is its greatness, the test of its belief that all Jews are responsible for one another.
This group of at-risk youth is estranged from Religious Zionism, does not listen to the counsel of its parents, rabbis and educators. We are talking about a small group, tens of youngsters out of the tens of thousands who serve in the army in a proportion far greater than the percentage of Religious Zionists in the general population, with a ratio of voluntary enlistment in front line battle and commando units way above their relative number. Tens of young Religious Zionist families move to development towns in the context of nuclear Torah groups to strengthen those communities, every charity organization is filled with Religious Zionist volunteers. There is much of which to be proud in the products of our education.
Yet even wholesome and beneficial education that stresses moral behavior, love of one's people and country as well as persevering in attempts to reach a greater goal, can sometimes lead to a dangerous crossing of permissible borders. We have to prevent all aberrations, but we must at the same time continue trying to achieve our great moral and ethical aspirations.
Every path to glory has dangers lurking on the way. We must reject them forcefully and continue advancing on that road. The dangers must not prevent us from continuing to strive for perfection, morality, love of our Torah, our People and the Land.
The vituperation in the attacks on Religious Zionism are proof of its intrinsic value and significance. How happy we should be to have merited being part of Religious Zionism!
Translated from the Hebrew Besheva weekly by Rochel Sylvetsky.