My point is that zeal, or an excess of zeal, can itself cause one to leave the path of ‘Truth’. Where ‘zeal’ manifests itself (as here) to the exclusion of basic human compassion and understanding, as a rejection of the freedom, dignity and beliefs of others, it in and of itself (like most things, when taken to extremes) becomes error, regardless of the nature or validity of the beliefs producing it.
I accept, of course, that the very definition of ‘zeal’ is a subjective one. But then, as previously mentioned, so is the nature of truth. Given that we do not, and never will, all share the same understanding of ‘truth’, there must of necessity be limits imposed to the ‘zeal’ with which any individual can promote his own version of it.
Such limits in no way have to equate to a lack of passion. Strength of belief and passion for a principle are generally good things, but not in themselves incompatible with consideration, respect, tolerance and human decency. It’s when held to the exclusion of these, however, that they become ‘zealotry’ and thus potentially dangerous.
Defined religious truth is not subjective among Catholics and principle of generic zealotry need not be considered subjective among anybody since zeal can serve any cause. Zeal manifests itself here in the service of falsehood, namely, that rabbis posses divine authority define a universal dress code. They do not, yet they violently attempt to seize this authority in the name of religion.
The girl dressed modestly but apparently did not comply with precise, exacting requirements. People within a group may agree to dress a certain way but the rabbis do not possess God-given authority to make up and enforce exacting rules upon everyone. Such pridefulness and megalomania constitutes diabolical falsehood, objectively condemned by Jesus.