Almost all heroes, in both fiction and reality, must suffer for standing up to evil or helping others. Because of this, those who suffer yet do not deserve it are automatically labeled as heroes. However, having undergone suffering is not what makes one a hero. The title comes with helping others in need without wanting anything in return. Rabbi Hirsch's case is no exception. Rabbi Hirsch has suffered much throughout his life, and deserves recognition for his pain. However, in response to his suffering, all he did was stay to himself. If he had got up on his feet and made an attempt to either stop the source of this suffering, or help others who are being or have been affected by it, then he could have been recognized as a hero.
One of the qualities of a hero is to express initiative when trouble is near or when help is needed.
English: Looking northeast at Yeshiva on a cloudy ...
English: Samuel Hirsch (1815-1885), reform religio...
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch FerberRabbi Hirsch sees that the Germans are about to invade Czechoslovakia. However, unlike his wife, he is against doing anything for his people that would separate him from his wife. He only agrees to go and deliver some money for the Zionist organization after his wife convinces him to, and even then, he agrees with reluctance. Rabbi Hirsch's love for his wife is an admirable quality, but a hero would put other people's well being in front, especially when his wife is asking him to do so.
The rabbi's reaction after he finds out about his wife's death is also an indicator of his level of heroism. If, before, he were against putting himself in danger to help others of his kind, than his wife's death should have been a significant motivator. However, instead of joining the Zionist organization, or doing anything else to help his...
Rabbi Hirsch
You've done a good job describing the flaws of Rabbi Hirsch. However, even heroes have flaws. Certainly he would have been more heroic had he always acted on his convictions, but I'm not so sure Rabbi Hirsch is unheroic. I would agree that he does not conform to the stereotypical mythic hero of literature, but there still seems something quietly heroic about a man who has experienced so much bitter suffering yet retains a certain loving, hopeful outlook on life. His gentle teachings help Michael grow in wisdom and I doubt Michael would characterize the rabbi as unheroic.
7 out of 7 people found this comment useful.