Rav Kook’s theory: the world resents the conscience the Jews handed it, the way a child resents a dentist.
Q. If even in a modern world, there are Pharohs and Hamans, named Hitler, Nasrallah and Haminai (y’mach shmam) who wanted to “nuke” us, does that mean that anti-Semitism never ends?
Rav Kook (Orot, p. 157), suggests that the source of hatred for Am Yisrael, is that we taught obligations and brought morality and “conscience” to the world, commanding barbaric man not to steal or kill- something that the nations of the world did not and do not want to hear. Nietzsche even called “conscience”, a “Jewish invention”. Most people don’t like their conscience (even when they listen to it!). Secondly, in comparison, we show the world that morality is do-able, something which “shows-them-up”. This is what Chazal teach us that Sinai’s name infers that the Torah brought hate (Sin’a) of Israel to the nations.
Rav Kook explains that people not only enjoy gifts but even harbor a positive association with the “pleasure-giver”. Many people go so far as to value the autograph of entertainers for that reason, admiring those who bring us gratification. Children often love the candy-man but hate going to the dentist, despite the fact that it’s for their benefit. Only when they mature will they eventually recognize and appreciate the dentist. The more the world matures and understands the benefits of morality and its source in monotheism, the more they will eventually appreciate the nation who brought those ideals, the greatest of all gifts, to the world. Until then, we must be on guard, and celebrate and thank G-d for His protection!
Pesach Same’ach v’Kasher!
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