rebdoniel, rampant anti-semitism and self-justifying insincere Judaism has resulted in quite a bit of harm. That characteristically goes hand in hand with misconstruing the words of our sages. If you don’t take care to have the common decency to give them the benefit of the doubt with openminded inquisitiveness, then you are the one taking part in the harm by so easily following the belligerent. You may even surprise yourself and find that their opinions match perfectly with your consciense. It seems you have already had your earful of the outside rhetoric.
Let us just consider the coherence of what you said. You said the notion caused harm, but you didn’t say whether or not the notion was untrue or counterintuitive (And you are going to point out to me where to read in the Sridei Eish). Now let us consider the subject of the R’ Yehuda Halevi, Maharal, and the Baal Hatanya’s studies. I’m sure they learned, for just one example, Bava Metziah 85:1 numerous times, where R’ Yehuda Hanasi gets punished for not comforting an animal properly.
So, though it’s true we can never stress enough compassionate behavior to everyone, it would be a big stretch to say or even give off the impression that great Rabbis were guilty of such things. In the end we must say, we must study their words in more depth and hopefully come to a more agreeable understanding of what they are saying.