Opinion

בס"ד

It is interesting that the less Torah learning an individual has, the more opinion they use. Opinion is based on life's experiences and not so much on knowledge. When I was doing Kiruv, outreach (helping fellow Jews find their way in life), in the states, I saw it all the time that you can teach Hashem's opinion on a subject and get as a response: "I always believed it was this way or that way." I find the more Torah that I learn, the less I know. When I discover the truth about a subject, I find I have a lot more to learn and that I have been running on my opinion for years on whatever the subject is at hand.

I am experiencing, almost every day, "the me of the past (the way I used to think when I had an opinion)" since most people, who are without Torah answers, think they know much more than Torah scholars – after all, they have an opinion. The biggest problem is, unlike when I was face-to-face with my Kiruv (outreach) students, the web is a cold hard place to correct and help people. In person, we provide instant help and a much friendlier atmosphere. People are much more brave and show much more belligerency when they deal long distance by writing. Since they can say any nonsense they want and even use the name Anonymous to spout their misgivings, they become as brazen as they want without consequence.

Or, is it without consequence? Anyone who has fear of heaven knows very well that everything one does, every word one says and even every thought one has is known and is recorded in heaven. Psychologist will tell you that people like to have a scapegoat. Jews have been the most famous scapegoats in history. It's very difficult for us to admit our own shortcomings. If we have a way to vent our frustrations, blame someone else in a way that we think is safe, we take advantage of it. The web has perpetuated much hatred, especially Jew-hatred, because it is a haven for cowards. It is so easy to blame someone else for one’s problems; especially a stranger that I will probably never see or encounter in any way.

A few years ago there was a debate on another blog about whether my blog really was the Absolute Truth. Most of the 110 comments were positive and even complimentary. But, I saw within the comments, individuals with a great lack of Torah knowledge, screaming for help. It was a vent for personal problems and frustrations. The big problem was it hurt good people. It definitely included Lashon Harah, and the permanent damage it could cause. You can’t take it back and can’t fix the damage. I saw on my blog a decrease in comments and a decrease in page views. This indicates to me that many of my readers may have lost confidence in some of the material that I was presenting, because they were victim to believing Lashon Harah. I was getting more personal Emails from people who wanted to talk, but did not want the other readers to read their questions or concerns. The sad part is that I did not get challenged when points of disagreement were voiced. Instead of somebody doing it the Torah way by saying to me “I disagree with something and here is my evidence to prove my point,” I received anger and nonsensical accusations. Anger is always a sign of frustration and lack of knowledge on the part of the individual. I can see that they were not angry at me; but, they just could not admit it that the psychological failing is on their part. In other words, they were angry at themselves and were merely looking to vent their frustrations and using the safety of the internet was the perfect outlet.

Since I am aware of this, I am in no way concerned about myself, but I'm very concerned about those who are having this problem, since I cannot help Anonymous (the name that is almost always used by the one not able to cope). The biggest frustration of all is how many people listen to Lashon Harah and believe it. Both are grave sins in the eyes of Hashem – listening and/or believing. I know that I can control the comments on my blog. I can delete any comment that is inappropriate. But when it appears on somebody else's blog and as Lashon Harah, I have no control over the hurt it causes good people. What the moderator of another blog prints becomes that moderator’s responsibility, even if it contains very sinful and damaging rhetoric. Printing Lashon Harah is a way of condoning Lashon Harah. That hurts everyone involved: the one being talked about, the one saying the Lashon Harah, the blogger allowing it and the readers who read it (even if they don’t believe it). What is sad is that no topic that came from my blog was questioned or debated. I was just told I was wrong and end of story. In every case, I had excellent sources to prove my arguments. In some cases I had to do further research, since it was dealing with something that I had heard many years prior, but I was still able to vindicate my position.

I take very seriously the idea of presenting the absolute truth as I spend many hours a day researching and writing before I post. It's amazing how someone with a total lack of scholarship on the subject can, with a distorted opinion, voice dissension the way they do. I find almost no one will ever research the subject; only that they comment based on what they have experienced themselves – an opinion based on flawed human logic. I know basically people are lazy; but, if they really know how much damage they are doing to themselves and others, they would become more ambitious. Don’t forget: this is damage for all eternity.

I am with very little concern about myself. I know that everything in this world is for the good. I see this as testing for myself and for any blogger who faces the same situation. In other words, Hashem is providing me with challenge to help me grow, which gives me Tikun. I thank Hashem for the personal growth, but I still feel bad if any of my readers have been led astray and had their personal growth negatively affected. Also, I feel bad for the frustrated individual who comments in an incorrect way by not asking questions, but just voicing dissention. That person’s entire future depends on it as well. I have mentioned that we are getting close to the Day of Judgment "the two late date." How much I wish everyone would take this seriously. It's not the anger that you are venting, it is the fact that you may be shooting yourself in the foot while doing it. Other bloggers should note that taking the Absolute Truth off of your favorites list has sent a very strong message to your readers and mine. It condones Lashon Harah and hatred. It says that judging a fellow Jew is not important. Judging is against Torah, especially if you state publically that Hashem’s truth is not your opinion. That is a grave sin. Remember that one of the greatest traits for which Hashem is judging us is Ahavas Yisroel, love of one’s fellow Jew.

When you read something on the web ask yourself: “Am I seeking the truth or just giving in to the loudest protesters to appease them? Fairness is the Torah way and is the best lesson for readers of all the nonsense on the web. Your eternity will be reviewed on Judgment Day; do the right thing.

I have a love for all people and those who can't control their own emotions, I wish to help. I am neither a hateful person nor a vengeful person, but only one who wants to do the will of Hashem and help everyone. If you lack knowledge on the subject that I am covering, then join me in learning. If you know more than I on any subject and wish to contribute, I'd like to consider myself as open-minded an individual as can be, and I am ready to learn from you. All I ask is if you frequent blogs, be nice to the other readers and any blogger to whom you provide comments. I am sure you will receive niceness in return, especially from Hashem. That's the Torah way; and, that's what makes Hashem happy.

One word of advice is the best way to learn the Absolute Truth is through books that are based on Hashem’s opinion, not the horrible web that is mostly the flawed human logic opinion of people.

Tomorrow, B”N, I would like to discuss the danger of having an opinion – it is more complicated than you might think.