We have been discussing that during the time of the second Bet HaMikdash, the sin of Baseless Hatred was not revealed. The Bet HaLevi explains that this was because each person thought that he was right when he saw his friends negativity and lackings. That is why they never repented. And if anything, the Galut and lack of parnassa caused more hatred and disunity.
This concept is echoed by the Haamek Davar, also known as the Netziv, Rav Naftali Tzvi of Berlin, who attended Yeshiva with the Bet HaLevi. In the opening to his sefer on Bereshit, he says that during the time of the Bet HaMikdash the people were “Sadikim V’Hasidim/pious and righteous, and toiled in Torah. But the problem was that they had Sinat Hinam, because they suspected each other of not acting properly religiously. Each one suspected his fellow of being a Sadducee and an Apikoros.
In those times, there was an uprising of heresy, which brought about this hatred.
Because of the religious diversion that was going on at the time, the people got caught up in this religious hatred, which brought them to bloodshed, in an extreme and shocking way.
It’s interesting that very first murder in history, when Kayin killed Hevel, was due to a religious dispute over korbanot.
The Haamek Davar says that all the evils of world came about from this, until the Bet HaMikdash was destroyed.
That’s why is says about God, “Sadik V’Yashar Hu. God is righteous and straight, God doesn’t tolerate righteous people like this (crooked). They have to be Yashar, as well-not just righteous. They can’t be crooked even if it is L’Shem Shamayim.
Crookedness L’Shem Shamayim destroys the world and the entire set up of the land.
This is a very eye-opening concept.
Of course, we all want to be religious, but we have to look into our hearts. Not every L’Shem Shamayim attack is necessarily correct. You need an Adam Gadol to direct you.
Shimon and Levi were zealots, but they did not ask Yaakov Avinu how to act before hand. Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzsky said that the deciding factor of a zealous person, who is excited about religion, is whether he seeks advice from his rabbi before he acts, or does he just shoot from the hip.
This is a scary concept. A person live his life thinking that he is doing everything right…and that is why it is so hard to do Teshuva.
Have a wonderful day.