One of our readers sent us an article written by HaRav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch in 1855, when laws were passed in Germany aimed at denying civil rights to the Jewish population. These were minor economic laws but HaRav Hirsch was already able to see in his wise eyes the drastic ramifications of denying elementary rights to the citizens.
In the work, Maagalei Hashana, his thoughts appear under the title, "Denying Basic Rights is the First Step Towards Murder." Dozens of years before the Nazi rise to power, when no one could even imagine a dreadful rule such as that, yet in such an 'enlightened' and 'cultured' nation, HaRav Hirsch already warned against the tangible danger developing from such a denial of basic civil rights. Even without a comparison to such a dire past, these words should surely serve as a warning signal in the present battle against the chareidi public in denying it elementary civil rights. Following are his words:
"And you, too, honored gentiles who have gathered to deal with Jewish rights, you had better turn your attention to the periods which we have described. We are certain that not one person here can blithely view the horrible acts which your ancestors perpetrated upon Jews and not be shocked to your very core. It is clear that not a single one of you would take part in those atrocities, were they to recur.
"Do you really presume that during those benighted times there did not exist good-hearted people, such exalted souls who were disgusted with those outrageous acts, or indifferent to those spine-chilling cries of murdered babes? The accounts which chronicle those periods do not fail to record praises of those 'righteous of gentiles' who rescued Jews from the hands of the barbaric hordes. But what could be left to rescue after those unfortunate sacrifices had already been removed from the framework of civil rights, so that it was impossible to restrain the evil, rabid hordes and say to them: this is the limit — beyond that, no more.
"It is impossible to begin denying a person his natural rights according to all rules of justice and rectitude, and afterwards, to arrest the riotous developments. Any denial of rights, even with good intent, will eventually lead to unrestrained barbarity and unrestrained murder.
"Remember and do not forget that the bitter and devastating fate of our ancestors did not arise suddenly. Very possibly, the very first step of denying rights to Jews was negligible, lacking any significance, yet it was already sufficient to stamp upon Jews a seal of divergence, of dissimilarity. And this prepared the ground for the coming steps. Do you really believe that our cultured and civilized period is sufficiently immunized against the recurrence of such a diabolic and extremely unrestrained fanaticism? Take heed to the warning! Examine it carefully and wisely apprehend the signs of the times!"
Denial of civil rights — is a flashing red light!
