This post is part of a weekly series on the Nishmablog presenting the questions to which he responded and the answers that he gave.
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Question: What is the idea behind “kol yisrael arayvim zeh lazeh?” Are we really responsible for each other’s actions? How can a nation spread out throughout the world truly bear responsibility for each other?
Philosophy -
Israel is a Holy Unit - the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. No other religion I know comprises a "Peoplehood". "Mamlechet Kohanim v'Goy Kadosh"
Spiritually -
We have one common root. As the song quoting the Zohar states: "G-d, Israel, and the Torah are one"
As our sages proclaim "You are called Adam, Gentiles are NOT called Adam"
This has been used by Anti-semites as an attack on Jews as thinking that Gentiles are inferior. They are missing the point. As one of the great masters explains: "all of the world's people are children of Adam and Eve. Only Israel is called "Adam" because we are the only one's who are still ONE unit.". Meaning: Gentiles may be "children of Adam" but not one solitary unit Thus, a Jew fighting another Jew is likened to 2 leaves on the same tree fighting each other.
"Atah Echad". Our Shabbat afternoon liturgy emphasizes the Unity of G-d and the uniqueness of His people Israel.
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It is also said in the Midrash that when we received the Torah, we were all "armed with swords" to keep each other in line with the commandments. While such an aggressive posture was acceptable for eyewitnesses to Sinaitic Revelation, much kinder and gentler means are used today. Nowadays we do "outreach" instead so Jews who don't proselytize to Gentiles, but we do Keiruv or "Inreach" to our own people
Perhaps if all Israel had 100% of its act together it could look differently. Now as it stands -
When one Jew suffers we all suffer
When one Jew is in danger we all rally to his/her defense
When one Jew is alienated we all feel the need to reconcile him/her back to our people.
When one Jew is murdered, we all take responsibility.
When manslaughter is committed, the death of the High Priest releases the murderer. He is deemed responsible somehow for the behavior of "his" people
When a murdered body is found and the assailant is unknown, the elders of the nearest town take responsibility via a ritual.
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My colleague R Aharon Ziegler shared this Point with me from the late R JB Soloveichik. Re: Moshe's leadership. I'm sharing with his kind permission:
«Moshe said to Bnei Yisrael (Devarim 1:37) "Gam Bi Hit'anaf HaShem Big'lal'chem". Translation - "Also at me, HaShem was angry because of you".
In other words, because of you, I too will not enter the land. It was not because of what Moshe did or said. [That he was deprived of entering the Promised Land. Rather] A manhig [leader] is responsible for his people. If they sink, he goes down with them, he has failed in his mission. The captain goes down with the ship.
Aharon Ziegler»
To a lesser extent, every Israelite, whether a leader or not, shares that kind of "captain-of-the-ship" responsibility.". That is how the Holy Temple was lost and same for the delay of the Arrival of the Moshiach.
We have a shared history and ancestry as well as a common destiny. When we embrace a convert that convert not only practices Judaism, he/she also joins our people. Thus we are united with all Jews past, present, and future. We are even responsible to perpetuate our traditions as a legacy to those not yet born. We are One in a unique way.
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