One Can Be Silent, (at least partially)

I davened at our local Chabad beit knesset in Kochav Yakov over Shabbat. It is one of two places that I usually daven Shacharit at over Shabbat. I was surprised when one of our local Rav Kahane supporters made a conditional MiSheBerach (a blessing over someone when the Torah is on the bimah) for Sharon to get well. It went something like this, "He should have a full recovery if the Creator knows in advance that he will do a full teshuvah." I had never heard a conditional MiSheberach before.

After davening a spirited debate broke out on whether there should be any misheberach for this number one criminal and implementer of what would at any other time in history have been considered a Crime Against Humanity. Personally I am never offended at the chance for the worst criminal to do a full teshuvah, especially for someone with so much past merit as Ariel Sharon. The conditional MiSheBerach was novel and at least for me inoffensive. But intense dislike for this proven criminal runs deep, and I remember from Chazal that one should be very wary about davening for the welfare of someone that you despise, especially an unrepentant criminal. Just to note: Those who thought that any misheberach at all was wrong asked if the Gabai would have prayed for Achav ben Omri, the evil King of the Northern Kingdom to get well. Of course, Achav committed intentional murder against the Prophets of Israel during his lifetime with the active assistance of his evil wife Jezabell. Ignoring the world media's previous hatred of Sharon, the worst crime he committed as Prime Minister was to take away the livelihood of Torah Scholars and the residences, businesses, synagogues, and yeshivot of thriving Jews in thriving communities. To the extent that turning an active, well, law-abiding citizen into a pauper is considered murder, he has committed thousands of them.

Having said this, I fully respect both approaches, Sultan Knish's approach and R.Lazer Brody's approach. This is very obviously a major judgment from heaven if Sharon does not recover at a time when major judgments are becoming increasingly more frequent during this year of Yitzkhak. At such times I know that I could place myself under a strict judgment if I demand it upon another, even a notorious criminal such as the Prime Minister. Until I have clarity on this issue, silence, at least for me, is better than a request of heaven that G-d should destroy this evil man in our midst and not just a request that G-d should destroy the evil that is in him. Whatever you choose to do, put the victims of this man's lust for power at the top of your prayers. Almost five full months after this man's criminal act, the saints from Gush Katif, Northern Gaza, and the Northern Shomron have not yet been compensated!!

In addition, the good people of the Western Negev and Southern Ashkelon are now within missile firing range of the crudest Qassam rockets. Heaven knows what G-d will allow the Hamas scum to do when they get a hold of Iran's and North Korea's newest missiles. Keep the people of Sederot, Netivot, and Ashkelon in your prayers too.