11 Elul 5780
The Concise Book of Mitzvot compiled by The Chafetz Chayim lists this as positive mitzvah number 69, "it is a positive commandment to return something lost to a member of Jewry," and it says the following about it:
...It is a religious duty to return a lost object even to a wicked person. But if someone eats carcasses [non-kosher meat] out of spite and defiance, or he violates the Shabbat openly, he is a heretic, and it is forbidden to return a lost object to him."
That gave me pause because of the implication of a vast difference between a wicked person and one who meets the definition of a heretic. Apparently heresy goes beyond wickedness. However, from my experience, there are very few Jews today who are willing to concede this fact or to identify the heretic so as to fulfill this mitzvah of withholding the lost object. This lack of balance in our observance is partly the cause of the situation we find ourselves in these days.
So, my question now is this: If Jared loses an item during his photo-op at the Kotel Hama'aravi, are we obligated to return it or not? I mean, you have to wonder.Here is a person who presents himself as an observant Jew and yet he is leading the world (and forcing Israel) to adopt a policy whereby the holiest parts of Eretz Yisrael will be given to terrorists to make their own State and whereby hordes of Muslim infidels are proclaimed to be welcome to flood the holiest place of all - Har Habayit - knowing that they claim it for themselves and vow God's house will never be rebuilt there. Wicked? No question! But, how can it be that there is something even worse; that eating non-kosher meat on purpose and violating the Shabbat in public is even worse than that?
To my mind, they all paint a picture of someone who does not believe that HKB"H really exists, or that He has really commanded, or that He really judges, else they would be afraid of the consequences of performing such actions which run so contrary to His expressed will.
Thankfully, I don't think I'll ever be confronted with this particular dilemma. I don't anticipate ever crossing paths with Jared Kushner. But, if I had to decide which mitzvah to adhere to in his case, I'd choose to err to the side of most doubt and I'm convinced that what Jared Kushner is doing is beyond wicked. And that goes also for anyone and everyone who rallies around the Golden Calf of "Peace."
"In Jerusalem on Sunday to meet Israel’s leaders, Kushner declared “The stage is now set” for “previously unthinkable” economic, security and religious cooperation, with more to come." (Source)
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NOTE this new video from Yuval Ovadia with updates on current events.