(By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times)
Arrests in Jewish communities are never good. In recent days, we have been inundated with headlines of possible theft. This article is meant to help us all steer clear of any issue of impropriety – not to pass judgement on any particular person or people per se.
For the most part, the headlines do constitute a grave and profound Chillul Hashem. Yet, some of us grapple with how exactly to define what constitutes Chillul Hashem. Some are uninformed as to the gravity of the enormity of Chillul Hashem. And many seem to be entirely clueless as to how to prevent it.
What follows is an overview of the nature of Chillul Hashem and of what may be a cure for it – a cure that we have had all along. Rav Yisroel Salanter explained that the more we study the halachos of something in depth – the more likely we are to successfully avoid violating it.
And so let us study.
WHO IS COMMANDED IN IT
Every Jew is commanded not to desecrate Hashem’s Name, as the pasuk states: “Lo sechal’lu es shaim kodshi.” The Mitzvah is listed in the 613 Mitzvos of the Rishonim and in the Sefer haChinuch 295. Indeed, if someone causes others to make Chillul Hashems – the Shulchan Aruch rules that he should be put in Cherem (YD 334).
WHAT CONSTITUTES CHILLUL HASHEM
The Rambam (Yesodei Torah 5:4) explains that Chillul Hashem is actually the opposite of Kiddush Hashem. This is a good rule of thumb to follow when one wishes to explore what exactly is a Chillul Hashem. Nonetheless, it is also important to examine what Chazal tell us specifically. The lack of clarity on the issue has created a situation where it could reasonably be said that one man’s Kiddush Hashem is another man’s Chillul Hashem.
For example, some people think that show of strength is an example of Kiddush Hashem. Others feel that an abuse of strength is, in actuality, a grave Chillul Hashem. It is thus important to see what Chazal and Poskim tell us in order to have a better gauge of the issue. It is not that this examination will resolve any issues between people who are arguing points among each other. But, hopefully, it will give a number of us greater insights.
Most of us are of the opinion that if someone is dishonest, it is a bad thing, but not that it converts the very Torah that he had learned into an object of Chillul Hashem. We shall soon see otherwise.
WHY IS BUSINESS BEFORE TORAH?
The Gemorah (Shabbos 31a) tells us that the very first question we are asked in the world to come is, “Were you honest in your business dealings?” The second question that is asked is “Did you set times for Torah study?”
At first glance it would seem that there might be misplaced emphasis here, since the Midrash Tanchuma (Bereishis 10) tells us that he world was created for Torah and its study.
Why then should matters of honesty in business be the first question? Since Torah is more important than anything else, the first question that should have been asked is “Did you set times for Torah study?” – not the second question!
ANSWER
Rav Yoseph Teomim, author of the Pri Magadim, in his Aishel Avrohom (OC 156:2) cites the Eliyahu Rabba’s grandfather’s answer to this question. He explains that if, Heaven forbid, he was not honest in his business dealings – his entire Torah learning constitutes a Chillul Hashem!
Let’s digest this.
In other words, this question is a prerequisite for Torah study, because if he is not honest with others in business, the Torah learning is not a source of merit. It is the opposite. The Torah learning itself is the source of Chillul Hashem!
This shows how very serious and fundamental the concept of Chillul Hashem actually is.
THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES
Chillul Hashem can be categorized in different ways.
1] There are a number of different categories of Chillul Hashem that are differentiated in some of the Rishonim.
2] There are Aveiros that the Psukim in the Torah call a Chillul Hashem.
3] There are behaviors that, no matter who the Jew actually is, also constitute a Chillul Hashem.
We will begin with the three different categories found in the Rishonim.
One category is when one if forced to violate one of the three primary cardinal sins that we must give up our lives for – Shfichas Damim, Gilui arayos and avodah zarah, murder, illict relations and idol-worship. If someone did not do so, this is a Chillul Hashem according to Sefer HaMitzvos (#63).
A second category is whenever one purposefully does an Aveirah out of spite – this too is considered a Chillul Hashem (Sefer HaMitzvos, ibid).
THE IMPORTANT PERSON CATEGORY
A third category is when an important person does something that causes people to talk – this is our case.
The Gemorah applies this even if it would generally not be considered an Aveirah (Shabbos 51b). This is considered a Chillul Hashem because people will learn from him. The Gemorah explains that the greater the person is – the more careful he must be. This is certainly true if an important person actually does an Aveirah.
According to the SMAG #2 and SMaK #85, however, category three is even if is not an important person but a regular Talmid Chochom whose actions cause people to talk – this too is Chillul Hashem. These authorities also say that when a Jew does any action that will cause Goyim to say, “The Jews have no Torah” – this is a Chillul Hashem.
DEBATE AS TO REASON FOR THE “IMPORTANT PERSON” CATEGORY
There is actually a debate as to the reason for the third category of a great person. Is it because he has a higher standard in which to comply with? This is what Rabbeinu Yonah (Avos Mishna 4:4) and the Rambam (Maamar Kiddush Hashem) write. Others understand it because other people will learn from him. Other Rishonim hold that it is because the Torah will be lessened in the eyes of others because of him (Rashi on tractate Shabbos 33a).
EXAMPLES OF CATEGORY THREE
What are examples of category three? The Gemorah (Yuma 86a) gives us illustrations. Rav gives an example of a Talmid Chacham that doesn’t pay the butcher bill right away. Rav Yochanan gives as an example of Chillul Hashem of a Talmid Chochom that goes without Torah and without Tefillin for 4 amos. Rav Yochanan’s explanation assumed that the onlooker does not realize that the Talmid Chochom just had a marathon session of Torah study and did not have the strength to continue further or the strength of intent to wear the Tefillin properly.
There are some observations that can be made from these illustrations. In regard to Chillul Hashem, according to Rabbi Yochanan, “perception is reality.” According to Rav, we have established the notion that it also involves a Middah, a character trait, or behavior and not just an actual sin.
WHAT THE TORAH CALLS CHILLUL HASHEM
There are specific Aveiros that the Torah itself specifically calls Chillul Hashem (See, for example, VaYikra 19:12). Most of these have to do with falsely swearing (shavuos) (See Rashi Taanis 23a), although giving one’s child to the Molech (VaYikra 18:21) is also called a Chillul Hashem by the Torah.
Abusing justice by the judges is also a grave Chillul Hashem.
The Gemorah will also provide Psukim that back up the idea that certain activities such as going to Goyish courts is a grave Chillul Hashem (Gittin 88b).
Anything having to with Avodah Zarah (See Rabbeinu Yona Avos 4:4 based on Yechezkel 20:39) is also considered a Chillul Hashem.
GENERAL CHILLUL HASHEMS CAUSED BY PEOPLE
Anyone who sins and causes others to sin – choteh umachti es harabbim is actively being mechalel shaim Hashem (Rashi Yuma 86a).
Another form of Chillul Hashem is when it is pointed out to the world that Klal Yisroel is not doing their job. The Beis Yoseph explains (YD 254) that if a poor person needs to be supported through gentiles – this is a situation of Chillul Hashem. It is, in fact, forbidden for him to do so unless he has nothing to eat. Regardless, it is forbidden for us, the community, to allow the situation to continue.
If Jews are aware that someone Jewish is going to falsely swear in front of gentiles that he does not owe money, when the gentile knows that he does – this is a situation of Chillul Hashem. The Jews must stop him from swearing falsely and rather must work it out with the gentile. This is a ruling in the Ramah in Shulchan Aruch in the laws of Shvuos ( YD 239:1).
Generally speaking, we are permitted to take donations from a gentile for a synagogue. However, if the gentile gave it to something specific in shul – we may not change it for anything else because of the Chillul Hashem aspect of it. One may do so, however, under certain circumstances if the donation was made by a Jew. [TaZ’s explanation of ruling in Shulchan Aruch YD 259:6]
The Bach in a responsa (#111, old) cites the Sefer Chassidim (#829) that if it is the custom among the gentiles to forbid a certain food because a horrible sin was done with it– then Jews should also refrain from eating it. This is on account of Chillul Hashem.
Publicizing a previously performed Aveirah that was unknown may also be a form of Chillul Hashem (see Tehillim 32:1 from Yuma 86a.) Therefore, when an Aveirah is not known publically one should not say a public vidui.
Physical relations with gentiles is also considered a Chillul Hashem (Rambam Issurei Biah 12:6).
Whenever it is possible to minimize a Chillul Hashem we should do this. This is seen from many Poskim, for example, Chsam Sofer (OC Vol. I #61). One such illustration, an extreme one, can be seen from the following idea:
Even though we no longer have the ability to deal with cases of capital punishments – there are times when Bais Din must act out of Migdar Milsa, especially out of Chillul Hashem. There was such a case where a person [warning: impending euphemisim] “blessed” Hashem and he was punished most severely because of the Chillul Hashem involved (See Teshuvos HaRosh 17:8 cited in Darchei Moshe CM 425).
What is shocking about this latter illustration is that nowadays we cannot perform capital punishment and if we do, it would constitute a capital offense on us as well. And yet to prevent Chillul Hashem, Beis Din allowed it in that instance, in order to minimize the Chillul Hashem of someone “blessing” Hashem. It is this author’s belief that the very term for the prohibition is referred to by the sages as “Blessing Hashem” in order to minimize the Chillul Hashem of the entire idea. [It should be noted that nowadays this ruling of the Rosh is not applicable at all.]
HOW HASHEM DEALS WITH CHILLUL HASHEM
The Gemorah tells us (Kiddushin 40a) Ain Makifin b’Chillul Hashem – this means that Hashem pays back (in punishment) a Chillul Hashem right away. What this means is subject to some interpretation (two views even being found in the Gemorah), but we see from all of this the gravity of Chillul Hashem.
HOW TO PREVENT IT
Believe it or not, the method of preventing Chillul Hashem lies in a daily halachic obligation that few of us are performing. That obligation is the learning of Mussar texts daily. And although the Mishna Brurah clearly rules that this is, in fact, a great obligation, the obligation is almost universally ignored. The Mishna Brurah stating the obligation is found in chapter 1 sub-paragraph 12 of the Shulchan Aruch.
The Chayei Adam Klal 143 also writes that it is an obligation that supercedes learning Mishnayos or any other learning. This means that it beats out Daf Yomi. That’s right – the obligation of learning Mussar each day is a greater obligation than the Daf Yomi.
It is also clear that it is an obligation from the fourth chapter of the Rambam in Shmoneh Perakim.
In Rishonim, we find that Rabbeinu Yonah (2:15) also discusses this daily obligation to study mussar.
Rav Yisroel Salanter predicted such a scenario where we are own worst enemy. He tried implementing daily Mussar study as an antidote. We need to go back to Rav Yisroel Salanter’s basics, and we need to do it now.
EFFECTIVENESS
But will the daily learning of Mussar prevent Chillul Hashem? It seems from the writings of the classic rishonim and acharonim that it can. Indeed, a number of contemporary Roshei Yeshiva have also urged the organizational leadership of our Torah organizations to figure out someway to incorporate Mussar in our daily routines.
This author recalls that, once, at an Agudah Convention, the Mussar obligation issue was brought up. Indeed, it was suggested by a prominent gadol that it be incorporated in the Daf HaYomi program.
THREE ASPECTS OF MUSSAR
Rav Yisroel Salanter zatzal discussed three different aspects of Mussar.
Chochmas HaMussar, the wisdom and intellectual component of Mussar
Limmud HaMussar BeHispaalus, studying Mussar in an emotional way allowing its concepts and ideals to affect our own personal behavior.
Chinuch HaMussar, the practical implementation of the concepts of Mussar in our daily life. He demonstrated and made practical the notions of Limmud HaMussar with Sfasayim Dolkos – lips aflame.
The Mussar Seder, should be inviolate – like davening three times a day. The highest ideal in Rav Yisroel’s philosophical world was to be a Baal Mussar- a master of Mussar. We need a reboot, and Rav Yisroel Salanter’s method is precisely the restart that we need.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
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22 Responses
One should also remember that being arrested does not mean one is guilty . While some European systems require a judge to determine that you are probably guilty before you are arrested, in America that is not the case.
Not in good taste. Yes Hichos chilul hashem needs to be learnt, but not in this context. I know some of the people who were arrested, and they are people who do n fact learn mussar. They are tzadikim in almost every sense. They struggle with daily living expenses beyond belief. The problem is that the parnassah issue isn’t dealt with well. That’s what the discussion should be about. That is, how to achieve better incomes for the mass majority of b’nay Torah. That is the issue of the day. So if anyone has any ideas for that, they’re welcome and asked to do something. Every else should daven for these people and their families, that this trauma should not have long last negative effects ch’v on the kinderlach. They should not pass judgement, and they should not believe the gross exaggerations in the media who love this chance to say something bad about the finest people who for the most part wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Thanks for the analysis, but the bottom line is that these people have brought shame on all of Israel, have given Gentiles a reason to hate all Jews, and most honest Jews to find these people disgusting.
Facinating distraction from the actual discussion about institutionalize benefits fraud in our community.
That would be a short article: It’s theft. It’s happening. It’s so common that it’s not even a secretive shameful activity.
And unfortunately; it overlaps with parts of our community that are “tzadikim in ALMOST every sense”.
This article epitomizes a major flaw in the frum community. An obsession with halacha to the exclusion of all else. What about simply being an honest person with integrity? A mensch. To turn this into a halachic matter trivializes the issue at hand. Frum Jews made a conscious decision to break the law and steal. Unfortunately this is all too common in our communities. It stems from a twisted mindset that you can cheat the government. Instead of being grateful to a country that has given Jews unprecedented freedoms and liberties, we feel entitled to take what we can from the government through any means possible. This has nothing to do with halacha.
‘Tzadikim in almost every sense’ is a big title, and spoken honestly without exaggeration. If I wanted to exaggerate I could have omitted ‘almost’. I’m not saying the hashkafa of benefit fraud is justified. It isn’t. I will say though that the fact that the government will only pay for educating children with teaching toeva values, is probably unconstitutional as being in violation of religious freedom, and really should be challenged. But that’s a side point which just makes it clear that those who bend the rules feel that they are being dealt with unfairly and don’t mean to take more than they should. Again I’m not justifying it, just putting it in perspective. So we have people who do plenty of big abominable avairos, such as mishkav zachar etc, or other avairos, certainly no less severe than benefit fraud, passing judgement on these tzadikim. The yetzer hora is a reality. When we pull here, it pushes there. So these people are staying clear of almost any wrong whatsoever, even in the face of poverty, and this is unfortunately where it gives. 2929, I don’t know you, and for all I know, you might be a true tzadik. But to most of those passing judgement, I say this: Indeed, don’t commit benefit fraud, and follow you heart for the good, but you are not better than these people. I know few who are. Don’t pass judgement.
Hey Tom Dick and Harry,
The discussion about how to make a living. Simple answer SECULAR EDUCATION
Should not have long lasting effects on their “kinderlach”. Hope it scares the wits out of their children and they will demand a SECULAR EDUCATION
Tom Dick n Harry: changing the subject is a childish way out. “The problem is that the parnassah issue isn’t dealt with well”, isn’t the subject. Chillul HaShem is the subject here. Rabbi Hoffman’s article is an excellent and very timely analysis of that problem. For me the most powerful words are “In regard to Chillul Hashem, according to Rabbi Yochanan, “perception is reality.” As the vast majority of those charged with “white collar financial crimes” are convicted, although we must not assume anyone’s guilt before it is proven, “perception is reality”. The perception is that noticeably frum Jews are less that makpid when it comes to money matters. That perception causes a grave Chillul HaShem.
By the way, just for the record, I am one of those people who has always spoken against benefit fraud, and told people that it’s assur. That helps put my words in perspective.
Tom Dick n Harry: “gross exaggerations in the media”??? Where? Dollar amounts and offenses being charged with were lifted from formal government complaints. The true underlying cause of this is that the “hashkafa of benefit fraud” being OK is deeply rooted, extremely widespread and condoned by Rabbonim & community leaders (in many communities) with a wink & a nod. Many know full well that it’s done yet don’t condemn or speak out against it.
Nobody who has applied for any benefits programs can claim ignorance as every single application states something along the lines of: I hereby state that the aforementioned information is complete and true and that false information is a crime punishable by fines, jail time etc. By providing misinformation or witholding information and signing that statement and receiving benefits, you are guilty of the charges being brought against you. In all these cases, the families “received income from numerous sources that they failed to disclose on required program applications.” To use the terms “allegedly” or “innocent until proven guilty” is an absolute joke as we all know the truth. Maybe the total numbers can be debatable. But if they only took $5K and not $10K, or $50K and not $100K you’re still guilty. Feds don’t bring up charges unless they have a very strong preponderance of evidence. They also very rarely lose in court. The ones that are hurt the most by these arrests are unfortunately the dozens of innocent children who will have a parent behind bars. Government will typically allow one parent then the other to serve time, instead of both at the same time.
Mr. Tom; I believe you are a nice person, and I can accept that these fraudsters are nice in many ways too. That has absolutely nothing to do with my point which once again is: INSTITUTIONALIZED FRAUD. A self inflicted reality of poverty is not a retroactive excuse for theft, lies, fraud, and the resulting Chilul Hashem. People make life choices that put them in to a life of poverty and then it’s an excuse to take what is not yours?
We all struggle with temptation and sin, its true, but this community needs to look in the mirror and ask themselves some tough questions because, there is sinning, and then there is believing its not even a sin. This problem is INSTITUTIONALIZED, it’s main stream, is “OK”. That is my point and that is where i feel 100% confident in passing judgement.
Before you reply; yes, there are 100% qualified people receiving benefits and that’s fine by me. It could spark the discussion you wanted to re-direct to about a culture of poor financial planning, but that’s not for today. This discussion as far as I am concerned is about FRAUD. Your friends could be nice people in every other way but they still did what they did, as a result of a community and culture that embraces is as common practice.
Rabbi Hoffman,
I was very disappointed in your article about the arrests in Lakewood. They missed the point.
The article reminded me of the teacher who said “it is ok to cheat on my class, just don’t get caught.” You focused solely on the consequences of getting caught, serious consequences indeed, but you ignored the real issue, the alleged behaviors for which they have been arrested. Why did you not address those Halachos?
Chayim Lando
The first comment is absolutely correct that “being arrested does not mean one is guilty “, however without evidence in cases such as these arrests are simply not made. All may be found not guilty if the cases go to trial which is unlikely. I expect that there will be plea bargains requiring forfeiture of the ill gotten money and probation with community service. All will have considerable legal fees. The damage that is caused by such a chillul Hashem can not be undone. After 120 they will have to deal with that.
I agree largely to what’s being said here by my ‘opponents’ who are not my opponents, because I agree. As I said, I speak against this. But what I mean by exaggerations is this. A family who can’t maker ends meet, so parents/in laws step in and gives something to their struggling children. It’s not major money, and it’s often not a steady income. It’s a few thousand here and there to help close some holes. The children neglect to report this. If they would, and thereby become ineligible to receive benefits, it wound end up that their parents gave them nothing, and it would be better not to have that support. So that’s the story. Then the media then make it sound like this person has plenty of money, but is simply greedy, and they report that these people stole millions of dollars. How do they get that number? The cumulative cost of health insurance for all the time, multiplied by all of the people who were targeted in the raids, without taking account to subtract what these people are still truly eligible for, and neglecting to report that they are poor people who are eligible by all standards to benefits, only not as much as they claimed . That’s what we’re talking about. The fact that it’s institutionalized makes the sin of the community bigger, but the sin of the individual smaller. A person who’s struggling and can do something to partially alleviate their struggle, by committing a sin which they have been conditioned not to view as a sin. So I totally agree with you all that this is wrong and that it’s a sin and we need to teach against it, but I disagree about how you are viewing these individuals. These are people who are nizhar on many didukay mitzva, but this has fallen through the cracks because they’ve been so conditioned and their situation causes them to find it easier to turn a blind eye, than they would do in other areas of halacha. Compare that to someone who would carelessly eat infested produce when nobody is looking. He won’t go to prison. His punishment will not be known on this world. But he is knowingly and deliberately violating The Torah. Yes gezel is called sheketz, but so is sheketz called sheketz. But one difference is that there is an awareness and an outcry about infested produce, and yet this individual could care less, even though it’s not going to hurt him to be nizhar. It’s only a bother and a slight inconvenience, which he won’t be bothered to inconvenience himself for The Torah. And these individuals will sit there comfortably while the condemn those who are generally better than they are. That’s my point. Suddenly we are preaching to them about chillul Hashem, but the fact that many of these preachers are carelessly mechallel Hashem in other ways, makes the preaching dishonest and disingenuous. He’ll sit in shul talking and disturbing, and thereby being openly mevazeh Hashem, and guess what he’s talking about – the chilul Hashem of these people who are better than they are. I see this stance as an ‘AHA’ moment against b’nay Torah with mesiras nefesh, and you should kindly honestly admit, that there is some validity and reality to what I say I see here. That’s why, while I agree etc, I said it’s in bad taste. These people don’t need a lesson in hilchos chilul Hashem any more than anybody else. Only the underlying problem of poverty etc needs to be helped. I would have though it more appropriate to see an article full of ahavas Yisroel, saying that these people nebach need help so that they can more easily overcome this misoyon. And that was and is my point.
Mr. Tom,
I definitely agree that you can’t judge another Jew until you’re in their situation. But the fact that “tzaddikim” will do fraud is exactly rabbi Hoffman’s point – it’s even a bigger chillul Hashem. Being a regular “poshitter yid” to hear about bnei Torah doing fraud makes me ask are they really bnei Torah? Where’s the bitachon that whatever is destined to you on Rosh hashana is coming to you no matter what you do (or don’t) committing crimes isn’t the way to do hishtadlus!!! But than again we really can’t judge, bec Baruch Hashem we are not in their situation.
Interesting, but…..
The frum individuals involved have brought shame to the name of devout and pious people and to those who study the word of haShem. The non religious looks and says, “you see these people are so religious, yet they steal are are corrupt; I am not religious yet I do not steal or act in a corrupt manner so there is nothing worthwhile by studying the Torah or praying.”
This type of behavior turns people away from haShem and to me this is a chillul haShem.
Let us hope that they will be acquitted in court and thereby taking away the chillul haShem.
Tom Dick n Harry –
I am sorry to say this but you are part of the problem. How can say that these people are tzaddikim in every other way?!
There is a famous story with Rav Schwab ZTZL that someone came to him to ask a shaila about a “frum” yid who committed fraud. The response was “I don’t understand the shaila.” The question was repeated again and again but Rav Schwab kept on giving the same response. The person asked “I don’t understand, what does the Rav not understand about my shaila”? Rav Schwab responded, I don’t understand why you keep calling this person frum.
We cannot pick an d choose what to keep and what is ok not to keep. I guarantee you these people, if guilty as charged were dishonest in other parts of their lives to. Being Lying becomes a part of the fabric of a person. You cannot be honest in one part of your life and dishonest in another. The Torah Says M’dvar Sheker Tirchak. It doesn’t say not to lie. It says not to even go near anything to do with sheker. So lying in one part of ones life is not just a bad thing, it is being over on a dioraysa – not to mention the actual theft, and Chillul Hashem.
I often hear the argument that we are stealing from the government! Its ok! These responses are so appalling and shameful. First of all this should not matter at all. Second, when these individuals lie about these programs and take benefits that aren’t theirs, it causes all others to pay higher taxes to fund those benefits. There is a reason why taxes are so high in frum communities.
I also heard that you cant blame them, tuition is so high, kosher food so expensive! PLEASE! These people had unreported income in the millions! MILLIONS!
Its time for all of us to adopt a non tolerance policy in our communities. If you hear someone telling you that they are doing this, speak out. Don’t be silent and let the Chillul Hashem to continue.
In former USSR some people use to say: “One who does not steal from the motherland steals from his family”. Unfortunately, today same could be said in USA. Plenty of liberal government officials especially in NY and NJ want you be dependent on government programs!!! As the matter of fact they make it impossible not to be on them unless you make above $120k per year! It gives them power to collect more taxes to protect “the poor”, and most of “the poor” automatically become straight ballot democrat voters because they don’t want to loose those benefits! Just look at the whole debate around Obama Care repeal. Republicans are trying to allow you to buy insurance if you wish, but Democrats are screaming “bloody murder” 24 million people will become uninsured, mostly by their own choice!
Today you have to either make under $30k per year and be on every program under the sun or make $120k + and be on your own! What about the people in the middle??? They are put in a very tough spot, either be really poor without much government help, or beat the system and live like everyone else! The major problem is that once most frum families have these very convenient programs and you feel like you are stealing from your family if you don’t go along with the program!
Tom Dick n Harry: There may be great validity in everything you say but you are off target. Write an opinion piece with concrete suggestions on how to help struggling bnei Torah make ends meet. However Rabbi Hoffman’s contribution was not talking about that subject. He gave a wide ranging and erudite summation of what constitutes “Chillul HaShem”, including as I mentioned before, Rabbi Yochanan’s opinion that, “perception is reality.” The reality here is that numerous public arrests of heimishe yidden in the streets of Lakewood create an undeniable perception that “the Jews are on the fiddle, again”. That is a Chillul HaShem and it is caused by those who did not take care to ensure that the benefits they were claiming were benefits they were legally entitled to. If they needed more money to live on they should have sought help from within the community not stolen from the Government, our Malchus Shel Chessed. If they didn’t have clothes for their children would it be fine to just go to Lakewood Center and help themselves to clothing, forgetting to pay on the way out.
Just to illustrate – I know someone who won $500 prize from Shelly z”l, he declared it on his tax return and lost $3000 in government help as a result! Now how was that fair?
I would agree that these people who have been arrested at this point do not need a lecture in hilchoth chillul HaShem…At this point they need our tefilloth. I was recently arrested, falsely, in Baltimore, MD. I called 911 after being threatened by a contractor working for a neighbor. The qushi rushed to greet the responding officers and claimed that I threatened with a gun, not that I had been threatened. Of course, in Maryland, all it takes is an allegation to become probable cause for felony gun arrest. If you actually own a gun for protection, it is worse! The felony gun charges were dropped. Later, the misdemeanor gun charges were dropped. There was no gun involved and there was no evidence of such. An assault charge, now non-gun related, was left, however…meaning that as a chronically very ill 160 pound person threatened a 6-foot plus 190 pound plus person who threatened to “come with his homies to mess my face, mess my house, mess my car; to beat the (expletive removed) out of me and to make me bleed like a stuck pig.” I was railroaded into PBJ, Alfred Plea, meaning no admission of guilt. Never-the-less, I am the one with PBJ and with bills of thousands of dollars for lawyers. One is guilty until proven innocent. It is called a criminal justice system,. To be sure it is a system, but there is no justice. I was jailed for 8 days; horribly treated and I nearly lost my life multiple times related to denied and poor medical care. I am lucky to have made it out alive. My family had to come up with $20 K cash for bail and I was the one placed on an ankle monitor for which I had to pay for the privilege. The reason? I am white, Jewish. You can check out Shomrim of Baltimore to see my recent posts about this. What these people need is our tefilloth to make it out intact. They will repay; what they did is terribly wrong. However, they need our tefilloth.
anyone denying that this happens in the frum heimish community is lying to themselves. its called stealing and everyone knows that it happens. but chinich ans our society is focused on being frum, kids in kollel etc.
this reminds me of a story about my father.
my father (who is not overly frum and grew up irreligious) had a seasonal business and he sold items on commision to jewish businesses. my father said the only person that ever frauded him was a ultra frummy who told my father that he won’t pay him because he has to support his sons in laws in kollel. there is something messed up with that.