[Avodah] Concerning ourselves with the world at large

[Harry Maryles]

Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote: 
    7- RASoloveitchik was quite outspoken about Biafra. I do not know his sevara, but
lemaaseh he felt there was a need to do so.
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  This is about the umpteenth time we have discussed the issue of how to interact with the world at large. It all boils down to what our attitude should be toward non-Jews. And the attitude amongst some rabbinic leaders is that they are evil Jew haters at the core and to be treated accordingly. There is are some Poskim who actually contend that it is even Mutar to cheat on one's taxes if he can avoid being caught and there is no resultant Chilul HaShem. In fact I heard a cassette recording of one Rav (unidentified in the excerpt I heard) haranguing his audience that one must hate(!) the Goyim. but should avoid it publicly as that would be a Chilul HaShem and could cause us harm!
   
  To say that such talk turns my stomach is putting it mildly.
   
  RAS was very clear about the the proper attitude we should have with the world at large. He wrote about it in his book "Logic of the Heart, Logic of the Mind". I excerpted some of it an article I wrote for the Jewish Press almost a year ago:
   
  http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/17945/In_The_Image_Of_God.html

Here is a pertinent excerpt:
   
  Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik, zt"l, wrote in his book Logic of the Heart, Logic of the Mind, the concept of kavod habriyos, the dignity of Man, is a halachic imperative that constitutes the basis of human rights, and the basis of all civilized jurisprudence.
   
  As the Rambam says in Hilchos Sanhedrin (24:8-10), these rights apply even to pagans. "Tzedek tzedek tirdof." Why should the Torah repeat the word tzedek? Rabbenu Bachaye interprets it to mean that the same standard of righteousness should be applied toward all non-Jews. 
   
  As an example of this attitude, Rabbi Soloveichik related the following story from the Talmud Yerushalmi (Bava Metzia): 
   
  Shimon Ben Shetach worked in the flax business. His students advised him to give up that business and buy a donkey which would provide a better income. Shimon Ben Shetach agreed. So his students went to a pagan Arab and bought a donkey for him. After the purchase they discovered a large diamond tied to it. They brought the animal and the jewel to their rebbe who thereupon asked them, "Did the Arab know that there was a diamond tied to the donkey?" They answered, "No." Shimon Ben Shetach told his students to immediately go back and return the diamond. But the students knew the laws regarding returning lost objects to idolaters. They knew that they were not required by halacha to do so. Why, they asked their rebbe, did he ask them to return it? He answered, Do you think that I am a barbarian? I am more interested in hearing the exclamation, "Blessed be the God of the Jews" from pagans than I am in earning a living.
   


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