Haiti in light of Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos

MACHSHAVA THOUGHT for THE WEEK (BO)

What should our reaction be towards what happened in Haiti?

Rabbeinu Yona on Avos 3:2 which paraphrased says one should daven for stability of the government so that anarchy will not prevail sheds light on the proper attitude we should adopt. Rabbeinu Yonah explains that a person should daven for the entire world and feel pain and suffering for the pain and suffering of others. A person should NOT take a selfish view of the world and only consider their welfare but should rather daven for the shalom of the entire world.

The Netziv elaborates on the inyan of Yashrus explaining that yashrus is being tolerant of others that are different from us so the oilam can function well. That is why Breishis is called sefer HaYashar and the lives of the Avos specifically. Even if they disagreed theologically they have a right to exist. On Parshas Haazinu he explains that the people of the Bayis sheini, leshaim shamayim killed those who did not agree to them. They did not live with Yashrus and thats what contributed to their being destroyed.

By only 4 makkos does Paroah ask Moshe to daven to Hashem to remove the makkos. What is the nature of Moshe’s tefilla? Moshe knows that Hashem is just and the Mitzrim deserved it and also that Paroah would change his mind and not free the Jews after the punishment was rescinded, nevertheless there was the need to daven, out of compassion and empathy for the suffering of others. Moshe understood what was going on and nevertheless still davened for them because it is not improper to have strong convictions and still not wish harm to those that disagree with our convictions and values. As the RY said it is important not to underestimate the value of shalom in the world.

As heard in shiur