Sinat Hinam

Today, there is a problem facing the Jewish people. It has been around for over two thousand, but we still have not found a solution. This problem is sinat chinam, or causeless hatred. Judaism is currently divided into Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements. Also, within these sects, there are Jews disliking other Jews for no apparent reason.

Sinat Hinam has been a problem facing Jews since the time of the Roman Empire. According to tradition, the 2nd Temple was destroyed due to this causeless hatred, specifically the Kamtza-Bar Kamtza issure.

As the story goes, there once was a man who had a friend named Kamtza and an enemy names Bar Kamtza. Now, this man was having a huge party. Anyone who was anyone was going to be at this party: famous rabbis, the Kohanim...everybody.

Naturally, the man wanted to invite his good friend Kamtza. However, his servant made a mistake and invited Bar Kamtza instead.

When Bar Kamtza received his invitation, he was very grateful to think that the host had finally made amends. But when Bar Kamtza showed up at the party, the host took one look and told his servant to immediately eject Bar Kamtza from the premises.

When asked to leave, Bar Kamtza said: "I understand the mistake. But it's embarrassing for me to leave the party. I'll gladly pay the cost of my meal if you'll allow me to stay."

The host would hear nothing of this, and reiterated his demand to have Bar Kamtza removed.

Bar Kamtza appealed again: "I'd even be willing to pay half the cost of the entire party, if only I'd be allowed to stay."

Again the request was denied. At which point, the distraught Bar Kamtza pleaded: "I'll pay for the entire party! Just please don't embarrass me in this way!"

The host, however, stuck to his guns and threw Bar Kamtza out. The rabbis who observed this exchange did not protest, and Bar Kamtza took this to mean that they approved of the host's behavior.

The Talmud reports that Bar Kamtza was so hurt and upset, that he went straight to the Roman authorities and gave slanderous reports of disloyal behavior among the Jews. This fueled the Romans' anger, and they proceeded to attack and destroy the Holy Temple.

It is this type of thinking and behavior that divides us today. It seems impossible that reform and orthodox, secular and reform, Ashkenazik and Sephardic , and all other types of Jews will reconcile their differences and get along. However, there is hope, as demonstrated by the existence of the state of Israel. During the early years of Jewish immigration to Palestine, the secular and religious Jews HATED each other. This was just a modern example of Sinat Hinam. When it seemed that there was no way these two groups of people would work together, Rav Kook, the