Helping Others

In this week's Navi class, we heavily discussed Chiykiyahu's characteristics as a leader and as a person.
We know from Yeshayahu Perakim 36-37 that Chiykiyahu stopped an alliance with Ashur, conquered lands around him, forged an alliance with Egypt, and fortified his city. This is from a political/military standpoint. Religiously, he instituted a revival, and the people returned to the Beit Hamikdash. All of these actions seem to form a practically indestructible kingdom, despite the reaction of Ashur. However, when he was mocked by Ravshakeh, he sent messengers (not even himself!) to Yeshayhu to pray for him. On a side note, this is quite the cowardly action. Yeshayahu does pray for Chiykiyahu, and Ashur is defeated. However, he gives absolutely no recognition or thanks to Hashem. How can he completely ignore the fact that Hashem is the source of everything, that Hashem is the true puppeteer?

In Perek 38, Chiykiyahu becomes critically ill. Yeshayahu approaches him, informing Chiykiyahu that his death is near. You'll never guess what happends next...Chiykiyahu davens to Hashem! Wow, we didn't see this one coming! Hashem listens to Chiykiyahu and grants him 15 more years of life and promises that Yehudah will be saved. Then, Chiykiyahu praises and acknowledges Hashem. This indicates an issue. How can you have a king who only davens for himself? More so, what kind of message is Chiykiyahu trying to convey in the midst of this spiritual revival? Is it only necessary to thank Hashem when your own personal salvation occurs?

Yeshayahu then warns Chiyzkiyahu that, one day, Bavel will come and attack Yehudah. What is Chiykiyahu's response? He replies that the word of Hashem is good because it will not occur in his days. This is not how a king should respond! He must realize that an aspect of his kingdom is not moral and attempt to improve it!

We then studied two different texts to discover more about Chiykiyahu's character. Brachot Yud states that Chiykiyahu is praised for three things and criticized for another three. The three actions of praise are as follows: 1) He "put into storage" (didn't use anymore) the Sefer Refuot. He did this because instead of the people putting their faith in Hashem, they believed this book of cantations saved them. 2) He cut down the Nachash Nechoshet. This was done because the people looked to this copper snake for medical healing, and it became a form of Avodah Zarah. 3) He dragged his father's body through the city and didn't give him a proper burial, due to his father being an idol worshipper. These actions seem to have occurred during the first fourteen years of his reign. The three things he is not praised for are: 1) He closed the Gichon River to prevent Ashur from receiving access to water, thus not putting his faith in Hashem. 2) He cut off the doors to the Beit Hamikdash and sent them to Ashur. This was a submission to Ashur. Yeshayahu had already told him that Hashem would save the people. Why did he do it anyway, though? 3) He added a leap year in Nisan, during the Pesach festivities. Maybe he had good intentions. However, he didn't do it in the correct way. Perhaps he felt that he was above the law.

Sanhedrin 94, the second source we studied, proclaims that Chiykiyahu had the potential to be the Mashiach, for at the beginning of his reign, he seemed somewhat perfect. However, power corrupts, and his bitachon in Hashem slowly became bitachon in himself.

Chiykiyahu's response to Yeshayhu's warning was what really appalled me. It was not only the people who were lacking morals and respect towards one another, the king was too! The entire kingdom was lacking the phrase "Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Lazeh. All of Israel is responsible for one another!"

This just further demonstrates the justification of why the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed. Even the kings, who were supposed to be role models, were completely indifferent to the future suffering of the people. This is not how you establish an enduring kingdom. Yet time and time again, the people did not realize this.

Many times, we are told to not be involved with matters that don't concern us. However, we should do everything in our power to ensure that these matters will not occur again. Chiyzkiyahu witnessed a besiegement once. The least he could have done was show a little sympathy and warn the next ruler-to be.

Today, we have significantly overcome this lacking of "Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Lazeh." There are many examples in current events that exemplify this. After Hurricane Sandy, Jews banded together to aid those who had absolutely nothing. They organized clothing drives, conducted school in people's homes, and provided food.

Just last week, during the terrible attacks by Hamas, we, as a nation, prayed and said Tehillim for the welfare of our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Responsibility is one of the values stressed in our school's new initiative, IKARR. As a school, we are accountable for one another. This is a major moral that is instilled in us. It is very easy to just care about ourselves, live in our own little bubble, much like Chiykiyahu. This requires no effort.

However, feeling helping one another should not be strenuous task. It should be something that occurs naturally. It is definitely a reflective point that really sticks out in our minds throughout the time of Thanksgiving. I really feel that it is so crucial to care for others to prevent the same mistakes of the past, and pave a new future.