By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

The New York Times reported that this past Friday night, the host of HBO’s “Real Time”, comedian Bill Maher, used a racial epithet during an interview with Nebraska Senator, Ben Sasse.
In a bizarre exchange, Senator Sasse invited Maher to Nebraska saying, “We’d love to have you work in the fields with us.”

Maher responded, “Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house N____.”

Maher apologized the next day.

From a Torah perspective, racism in all forms is inherently wrong and immoral. There are a number of reasons for this.

This author recalls Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l being asked this question at a Q&A session in Camp Agudah. Rav Belsky explained that all people were created B’Tzelem Elokim, in Hashem’s image. He cited Pirkei Avos where Rabbi Akiva taught: Beloved is man, for he was created in the image; an even greater expression of love is that it was made known to him that he was created in the image [of Hashem, as it is stated: “For in the image of Hashem He made man.” Every person has a Divine dignity to them.

The great Roshei Yeshiva explained that the Nazis, yimach shemam, had lost their tzelem elokim because of the depraved murderous acts that they had done. The implication is that others, all others, have their tzelem elokim.

Rav Chaim Dovid HaLevi in his Assei lecha Rav (Vol. VIII #68) decries the notion of racism and describes Torah hashkafa as being entirely free from it. In respona #69 he cites the Rambam’s Iggeres Teiman indicating that the sole distinction between Klal Yisroel and other nations is tha we agreed to keep the Torah.

MECHANEH SHEM RA

Use of a pejorative term to describe an entire group of people is also a violation of hamechaneh shem ra l’chaveiro. The Gemara in Bava Metzia (58b) states that all the people who descend to Gehinnom arise from there with the exception of three kinds: adulterers; those who affix a pejorative name to another; and one who embarrasses his friend in public. These three never arise. This halachah is stated in Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 228:5) and is nogaya. In this case it would be even worse because he is hitting an entire group of people.

The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 3:14) lists this as one of the 24 categories of people that have no share in the World to Come.

MISKABED B’KALON CHAVEIRO

Another issue in this particular case is called “miskabed b’kalon chaveiro,” receiving honor through the embarrassment of another. The Midrash Rabbah (Bereishis 1:5) quotes Rabbi Yossi bar Rabi Chanina that whosoever receives honor through the embarrassment of another has no share in the World to Come. It is also cited in the Talmud Yerushalmi (Chagigah 2:1).

We find throughout halacha the notion of kavod habrios – human dignity. Nowhere is this defined exclusively as Jewish dignity or white dignity like those mitzvos of amisecha vrchulay. All of mankind is endowed with it.
A fascinating thought is presented by Rav Aharon Soloveitchik from the Talmud Yerushalmi in Bava Metzia (2:5). There, Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach returned a pearl to an Arab idol-worshipper, after the pearl was discovered on the donkey he had purchase from the Arab. Although it would not technically be considered stealing, Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach responded, “Did you take me for a barbarian? Shimon Ben Shetach would rather hear the G-d of the Jews praised than all the money of this world.”

The use of the term “barbarian” intrigues Rav Soloveitchik. He explains that it means anyone who would treat an outsider or an “other” in a manner that is different than the in group. It is a Kiddush Hashem, a sanctification of Hashem’s Name when the Arab idol-worshipper sees others treated in the same manner.

When and if there are manifestation of racism among our peers it is something that should be corrected as it is an affront to the Creator – in that everyone was created in His image.

The author can be reached at [email protected].