Torah For Today: The Grenfell Tower bonfire
Rabbi Ariel Abel looks at the Torah view on the Grenfell Tower bonfire
Rabbi Ariel Abel is based in Liverpool
In celebration of Bonfire Night earlier this month, a group of people burned a model of Grenfell Tower, mocking victims as the tower was consumed by flames. So, what does the Torah have to say about this?
On witnessing a future Holocaust, the Torah projects the horror felt by foreigners. “Wherefore is the great anger that has caused this?” they exclaim.
Lamentations illustrate this with the physical responses of passers-by viewing the destruction of Judea. “They whistle through their teeth” at what they see. So, astonishment is expected from witnesses of tragedy, but not mockery.
The Edomite enemies of Israel who rejoiced over Judea’s downfall are prophesied by Jeremiah to suffer similarly.
Among co-citizens, where personal enmities arise, our sages warn of not rejoicing at another’s downfall, quoting verbatim from the biblical book of Proverbs: “On the downfall of your enemy do not be glad, and when he stumbles, let your heart not be glad”.
In the bonfire incident, it appears there was a racist element to the fun poked at the memory of those who died.
At a time when Britain is about to Brexit, it is crucial to ensure the fabric of society is not damaged by hate of this depraved kind.
According to Torah law, the hurt caused to those loved ones of the victims of the fire is civilly actionable.
A Torah Crown Prosecution Service would file charges for causing pain through mockery of the relatives’ painful death.
On a public level, cruelty against all creatures is one of the seven Noahide commandments, which should be defended anywhere in the world.
May the people of Grenfell be remembered by us with love, and their death commemorated with respect, while lessons for public safety are learned for good
and forever.
Rabbi Ariel Abel serves the Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation
Listen to this week’s episode of the Jewish Views podcast!
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
