Hashem created all human beings and it should sadden us when Hashem, their Father, does not see nachas from them. As we said, all people and all nations have a spiritual purpose, which they can develop by keeping the seven mitzvos, and if they do not, it is a spiritual tragedy for the entire world. As we say in our Yomim Noraim davening, we long for the days when all people and all nations will recognize Hashem and fulfill their purpose in creation.
Consider the following words of Rav Moshe Cordevero in Tomer Devorah (paraphrased from Chapters 2 and 3):
“Man’s pity should be extended to all the works of the Blessed One…In this way he should despise no created thing, for they all were created in Wisdom. He should not uproot anything which grows, unless it is necessary, nor kill any living thing unless it is necessary…to have pity on all things and not to hurt them, unless it be to elevate them higher and higher, from plant to animal and from animal to human. For then it is permitted to uproot the plant and to kill the beast…Man should train himself to do two things: first, to honor all creatures, in whom he recognizes the exalted nature of the Creator Who in wisdom created man. And so it is with all creatures, that the wisdom of the Creator is in them. He should see for himself that they are to be honored exceedingly, for the Creator of all, the most exalted Wise One, has busied Himself with them and if, G-d forbid, man despises them he touches upon the honor of their Creator.”
The Torah is anti-racist and we must not allow ourselves, or those around us to engage in racist behavior or jokes. As Rav Chaim Vital writes in Shaarei Kedusha (Chelek aleph, Shaar heh): “V’ye’ehov kol habriyos afilu nochri – Love all creations, even non-Jews.” We are not allowed to hate anyone, whether Jew or non-Jew, unless the Torah requires us to hate that person (ex: a meisis, someone who leads others astray from the Torah). Even when we are allowed to hate someone, it is always only due to inappropriate actions that person or persons have committed. We are never allowed to hate someone based on race or ethnicity. All else is sinas chinam, inappropriate and forbidden hatred.
And these are some of the happenings in this week’s haftarah.