The Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven

"S'iz shver tzu zein a yid": Its hard to be a Jew.

I just came across this in Tractate Shabbat 54b

Every person who can protest to the members of his household [to warn them against sin], and did not protest, – is held responsible for his household members’ [sins.]

[If he can, and failed to protest] to the people of his city – he is held responsible for the [sins of the] people of the city.

[If he can, and failed to protest] to the entire world, – he is held responsible for [the sins of] the entire world.

Rav Pappa said: Therefore the Excilarcs [heads of the Jewish Community in Babylon] are held responsible for [the sins of] the entire world.

As is was said by Rabbi Hannina: “Why is it written, (Isaiah 3) ‘God will come in judgment against the elders of his people and their officers [ministers/princes/leaders.]’? If the officers sinned – what is it the fault of the elders? Rather, its is because the elders failed to protest to the officers.

Now what do we do?

sigh ...