[Avodah] More on what constitutes chilul hashem

[Beth & David Cohen]

"This whole idea that
breaking the law is a chilul hashem has no foundation.  The notion
that one must obey the law simply because it is the law is abhorrent,
and the fact that Germans believe it and Americans don't explains a
lot about those nations' recent history.
Zev Sero

In the good old USA,  if one truly believes that a particular law is unjust
or unfair, one has recourse through the court system. But our theoretical
Jew is not interested in any due process other than his own --- he doesn't
attempt to conform with the legal requirements (e.g. get the permit), or
appealing if he is wrongfully prevented from doing what he believes is
correct. He won't do so, because to him these annoying regulations are only
for yenem, not for those of us who only answer to a higher authority. It's
ok to use the system (food stamps, etc.) if it suits him and ignore when it
suits him.

In some circumstances, it is the breaking of the law that creates a chilul
Hashem (e.g. child abuse by those decked out in full charedi
accouterments) . In other circumstances it's not the breaking of the law
that's a chilul Hashem, but the attitude towards the law and its enforcement
that creates it.

David I. Cohen
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