B-H
Rav Dessler highlights that the insatiable hunger for possessions and
gluttony can eventually be satisfied. A person may reach a point where they can
no longer eat, sleep in more beds, or drive more cars; there simply aren't
enough days in the month to wear all those $500,000 watches. This individual
will inevitably hit their peak—or their nadir.
In contrast, the hunger for power is never truly satiated. The thrill of
dominating others is endless, only halted by history itself when it stops the
conqueror in their quest for control. I intentionally avoid the gender-neutral
"his/her" expression, as this issue predominantly affects men.
Mothers typically do not grapple with this problem, as power is bestowed upon
them in the most beautiful and productive manner.
A man seeking domination will immerse himself in environments that allow
him to fulfill this hunger, whether in business, educational institutions, or
more commonly, through military careers or political ambitions. However, there
exists another avenue to satisfy the desire for dominance: a career in the
media.
Even without political or rank power, a propagandist wields the ability
to manipulate not only the populace but also politicians, military leaders, and
billionaires. A brief digression: consider billionaires who cannot utilize more
than they have acquired yet still crave more. While Rav Dessler does not
address this, it is evident that these gluttons, after indulging in their
obsession with possession, experience both a hunger for ownership and a hunger
for power. For them, money equates to the power of domination, enabling them to
purchase politicians, countries, armies, and, of course, mass media.
Once power-hungry individuals find themselves in a position of absolute
or near-absolute superiority, they begin to reshape the world according to
their whims. The thrill of playing god—deciding who lives and who dies, who
suffers by fire and who by water, who faces hunger and who meets execution by
rule of new law or military action—becomes intoxicating.
Yet, the fundamental truth remains, people generally wish to stay alive
and, more broadly, want others to live as well. Those who travel and encounter
diverse groups—people of various religions, ethnicities, and intellects—tend to
be more aware of humanity's positive traits.
By the grace of G-d, I travel and meet fellow travelers. I read memoirs
from both contemporary and historical travelers. Acts of violence are rare;
most travelers experience hospitality from those speaking unfamiliar languages
and belonging to unknown civilizations.
Those susceptible to propaganda live in fear of nearly everyone. From
the days of storytellers captivating villagers with thrilling and sometimes
terrifying tales to today's media, which perpetuates fear every moment. Stories
or braking bread, helping in trouble, barter exchange or sharing ideas or even
technologies are too boring. Horror and terror sell. Stories of danger
targeting you or your loved ones are often employed by the powerful to
manipulate or pacify the masses.
However, power-hungry individuals can also entice you with promises to
garner your support. Rav Hirsch, in his essay commemorating the fiftieth
anniversary of the Leipzig Battle, notes that Bonaparte, a bloody conqueror,
understood that by promising the nations of Europe "Liberty, Equality,
Fraternity," he could garner more support than through mere suppression.
He also exploited the fear of the enemy to bolster support for his excesses, a
tactic that remains relevant—carrot and stick.
Hitler, may his name be blotted out, employed a similar strategy, albeit
with more sophisticated propaganda. His deep-seated antisemitism is
unquestionable, yet it is less known that for several years after becoming
Führer, he refrained from mentioning Jews in his speeches. Discussing race
differences was acceptable, and some separation was tolerated. The emigration
of Jews from the Reich was seen as permissible if they wished to establish
their own country.
In the early years of the Nazi regime, propaganda focused on organizing
the mass emigration of Jews from Germany. Zionists seized this opportunity,
first raising awareness about the prosperous developments in Palestine and then
establishing the necessary infrastructure for resettlement—bureaus, banks, and
legislative support. Unfortunately, this often meant that Jews had to leave
most of their possessions behind, and if allowed to take more, it had to be in
the form of German-made products to support the German economy. This was the
initial Nazi solution, aimed at maintaining calm among the broader German
society during the early persecution of Jews.
It is important to note that the Nazis had already established their
identity by this time; they did not only become Nazis upon the construction of
gas chambers. Implementing discriminatory laws and regulations against other
residents in the same territory is indicative of Nazi behavior.
Simultaneously, concentration camps were established, initially for
political dissidents—communists, socialists, and pacifists of various creeds.
Jews were viewed as the primary proponents of the "wicked" philosophy
of pacifism, which contradicted the prevailing notion of "survival of the
fittest."
Soon, a secret euthanasia program targeting the physically and mentally
disabled was implemented, with parents often misled into believing their
children died of natural causes. This was part of a calculated effort to gauge
how much criminal behavior the German populace could tolerate.
Years of manufacturing consent, as noted by Reb Avraham Noam, ensued
among the German and European populations. Controlling a conquered population
through ethnic or religious minorities is not a novel concept; it has occurred
across continents and throughout history. Jews have sometimes been used as
tools of oppression, as seen in Polish-dominated Ukraine, but more often, they
served as scapegoats for societal problems.
Following a series of anti-Jewish laws that restricted the rights of
Jewish citizens in Germany, the time came for roundups and mass deportations.
Initially, it was not the German Jews who faced this fate, as justifying such
actions against them would have been difficult to accept by German Society.
Instead, the focus was on immigrants.
Roundups began in the early fall of 1938, primarily targeting Polish
Jews living in Germany, some of whom had resided there for most of their lives.
They were detained, placed on trains, and sent back to Poland, which was
grappling with its own antisemitic fervor—boycotts, legislation, and pogroms
were the grim realities for Jews in Poland, who had lived there for
generations, even before the nation existed.
Poland refused to allow its citizens returning from Germany to cross the
border. In the cold, rainy months of October and November, thousands of
families found themselves stranded between the Polish and German borders,
suffering and dying in the process.
Voices of sympathy emerged from both German and Polish societies, and
deportation became increasingly unpopular. There was a genuine risk that the
Nazis would lose support for this aspect of their policies. Yet, they were
already preparing for the next phase of their plan, needing only a trigger to
set events in motion. That trigger was pulled by Hershel Grynszpan at the
German embassy in Paris, resulting in the death of German dignitary von Rath,
who was himself somewhat anti-Nazi.
Hitler and Goering, may their names be blotted out, declared von Rath a
victim of Jewish oppression and terrorism, announcing a day of
wrath—Kristallnacht. The murder of the diplomat was deemed sufficient
justification for the destruction of Jewish public buildings, private
businesses, and the murder of numerous Jews in Germany.
Some may argue that this response was disproportionate, yet no Germans
protested. Even those who understood the situation were too intimidated by the
Nazi regime's grip to voice dissent publicly. This grip was not solely a
product of political organization and police structures; it was by then deeply
rooted in the German psyche.
Years of propaganda—through press articles, speeches, and
films—conditioned the German, European, and American populations to compliance
or indifference. Every crime committed by a Jew was amplified in the public
eye. After ensuring that no written or spoken resistance would emerge, lies
were fabricated to portray the "other," particularly the Jew, in the
most grotesque manner imaginable.
This is how those hungry for power consumed the soul of the people. In
the ensuing years, propaganda intensified but never reached a level that
allowed for open acknowledgment of the mass murder of Jews and others in death
factories. Everything was justified by war, as humanity has long been
conditioned to accept that while individual killings are wrong, when powerful
interests are at stake, people must die, and mass murder becomes a grim
necessity.
For the rest of us, it is always framed in terms of holy faith, our
land, our culture, our way of life, and our freedom. The Nazis operated under a
sense of superiority. Embracing Darwinism as their worldview, they viewed
themselves not only as superior and deserving of more but also as victims of a
system created by Jews—Jews who proclaimed that all people are created equal
and come from the same origins.
Unfortunately, the hunger for power is not an extinct phenomenon.
Post-Holocaust philosophers and thinkers briefly gained prominence, leading to
some positive advancements in the aftermath of European, Asian and American
societal ruins. International courts of justice and the United Nations emerged
to help diffuse conflicts and assist victims, embodying the commandment given
to nations to establish systems of justice. While never perfect, this system
was far superior to the unchecked hegemony of the early 20th century.
Observing a head of state banging their shoe on a podium or calling each
other names may be entertaining, as it reveals the true character of these
psychopaths and likely saves many lives. However, this imperfect system of
justice is being dismantled before our eyes.
We are witnessing the erosion of international courts, paving the way
for new bloodthirsty hegemons who seek control through human suffering. The
shifting of borders, the establishment of disparate rules for populations on
the same land, expulsions, and mass murder are realities that, if we do not
close our eyes and ears or dull our consciences, will undoubtedly rob many of
us of sleep.
By the grace of G-d, I have previously written on the value of human
life. For those who have made it this far in my essay but cannot access my
earlier works, I will reiterate: a society that values human existence less
than land, government, buildings, or places of worship is no longer a human
society. People willing to sacrifice their own to maintain control over
land—regardless of its sanctity—are doomed to catastrophe. How it is different
than human sacrifices of Canaanites of old?
Of course, there are situations where someone may be compelled to kill,
steal, or take away another's freedom. In such cases, we are justified in
responding, even if it results in the tragedy of taking a human life. However,
we must always remember that it is a tragedy and strive, like our father Yaakov,
to avoid such outcomes by any means possible.
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