[Avodah] What is sinat chinam

[Cantor Wolberg]

On reading the article on What is Sinat Chinam by Rafi Farber, I must respectfully disagree with the author's conclusion (apparently backed up by the Rambam) which is that "Sinas Chinam" is "really justified hatred, but justified hatred that won't lead anywhere." 
We've always understood it to be "Causeless" hatred, which makes much more sense. To condemn "justified" hatred as being what caused the churban is practically an oxymoron. If it is justified hatred, then it is justifiable! Perhaps it might be implying you should hate the sin but not the sinner. However, human nature being what it is, if someone abused or killed your child, could you in all honesty not feel hatred toward that individual? 
Or...if you use the argument that we are all created b'tzelem Elokim, then how would you apply it to Hitler, Eichman, or thousands of others, Y"Sh?
It's too much of an oversimplification to say that Sinas Chinam is "justifiable" hatred. It's one thing to "play with words," but it's another to "play with concepts."
ri
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