Rabbi Argues Publicly Accusing Opponents Without Proof Is a Crime

Rabbi David Stav, in his weekly Torah portion commentary, addresses the heated political discourse in Israel, questioning the propriety of accusing political opponents of treason or espionage without concrete evidence. He posits that while accusations with factual backing are permissible and should be reported to authorities, baseless suspicions amplified publicly constitute a "crime."

Drawing on the Torah portion "Nitzavim-Vayelech," Rabbi Stav explains the verse "The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever." He interprets this to mean that society should focus on addressing public transgressions that can be proven, leaving private, hidden matters to divine judgment. The Talmud, he notes, condemns both those who withhold testimony of a known injustice and those who testify about a wrongdoing without sufficient proof, as this can be seen as an attempt to slander the accused.

Rabbi Stav emphasizes that while political debate is healthy for clarifying positions, it must be grounded in a shared pursuit of truth and a belief in the good intentions of opponents. He warns that delving into "hidden things" and fostering suspicion undermines the legitimacy of the opposing side, potentially paving the way for internal conflict. When such accusations are echoed by political leaders, it signals to the public that the dispute has escalated into a fight for survival, rather than a healthy disagreement.

He concludes that individuals should focus on publicly visible actions and well-founded arguments for which they can take responsibility, leaving individuals' inner thoughts and hidden actions to God.