Getting
the Press back on track
[principles and guidelines in the words of the Torah]
by
Rabbi Avraham
Wasserman
Broadcast on August 24, 1999 / Elul 12, 5759 on
Arutz Sheva National Radio
Arutz
Sheva News Service <http://www.a7.org>
In This Article:
1. To Interview or Not
to Interview
2. The Famous Dictum
3. The Prying Press
4. Back on Track
TO INTERVIEW OR NOT TO
INTERVIEW
Good morning, and shalom. An interesting journalistic
debate developed
over the past few days regarding the following question: Is
it appropriate
to interview the unfortunate mother and daughter who, alone among
their
family, survived the earthquake in Turkey?
Some members of the press feel that it is not in good taste to
bother them
and speak with them at this so difficult hour. Others,
however, said that
they [Iris and Shiran Franko, whose husband/father, son/brother,
and
parents-in-law/grandparents were killed] are not "private
people," that the
country sent many rescue workers to save them, and that the
entire public
deserves to know what they are feeling at this time.
It would be a good idea to ask what the Torah's position on this
matter is.
Although it's hard to find statements that relate directly
and
unambiguously to this question - mass-media was not exactly
the preferred
method of communication so long ago - but there are always
principles and
guidelines in the words of the Torah and our Sages that we can
apply to
even the most modern developments.
THE FAMOUS DICTUM
One of these guidelines, and certainly one of the most famous, is,
"That
which is hateful to you, don't do to your friend."
Every journalist, and
each one of us, must try to see himself in a similar situation,
and ask
himself how he would like others to relate to him. It is
quite difficult
to assume that any one of us would like to be asked personal
questions -
for public consumption, no less - when, in the words of the Sages,
"[our]
dead is laying before [us]", i.e., before burial.
Even the laws relating to "comforting the bereaved" do
not apply at this
time, when the family members' main concern is to deal with their
dead - to
ensure prompt and honorable burial arrangements, and the like.
Until this
has been completed, they are even exempt from performing all
other
commandments. They must be totally and exclusively involved
in this
matter, and it is certainly not the time for others to interview
them.
Even after the funeral has ended, and the bereaved enter the new
status of
"mourners," the Halakhah [Jewish law] guides us away
from intrusive prying
into their feelings. It is forbidden to enter into a
conversation with a
mourner if he himself does not initiate such a talk, or at least,
shows a
willingness to speak. So behaved the friends of Iyov [Job]:
"When Iyov's
three friends heard of all this evil that came upon him, they
came. to
mourn with him and to comfort him. They sat down with him
on the ground
for seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him,
for they saw
that his suffering was very great. After this, Iyov opened
his mouth."
[Job 2, 11-13]
THE PRYING PRESS
The press has come quite a long way in its history. What
started out as a
tool for pointing out deficiencies and for providing information,
has
become a harassing and prying institution. It is no wonder
that such high
percentages of the public, representing all political viewpoints,
have
negative feelings about the press and what it represents.
Journalism is
consistently graded in public opinion polls among the lowest
profession in
terms of honor and trustworthiness.
In this connection, it is interesting to note that Chanoch Levine
- an
important playwright and stage producer in Israeli culture who
passed away
last week - refused to grant interviews throughout his long
career. This
was mentioned often in the plethora of articles written about him
over the
past few days. Not only did this not detract from his
prestige, but it
actually added to it - it gave him an air of respectability.
He spoke to
the public via a more important and relatively more respectable
means of
expression - namely, the theater. With all its serious
faults, from a
Jewish and moral standpoint, the theater in Israel has become a
more
respectable tool than the press.
BACK ON TRACK
This situation must be changed. During these days of
self-accounting
before Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur - both on a national and
personal level
- it would be fitting for our "ladies and gentlemen of the
press" to take
stock of where they are, and do what they must to restore Israel's
media to
the level of seriousness and purposefulness at which it can - and
must - be.
Rabbi Avraham Wasserman, host of a weekly Arutz-7 show, is a
rabbi and
teacher at the Ramat Gan Kollel.
Arutz-Sheva Educational Radio <http://www.a7.org> is a project
of Bet-El
Yeshiva Center Institutions. e-mail to reach the News Desk: neteditor@a7.org
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