[Avodah] "Watch Whom You Marry"

[Richard Wolberg]

Akiva Miller wrote:  The difference is that marrying these two sisters was a
necessary act. Rachel and Leah both understood how critical it was that they
should both be mothers to klal Yisroel. HaShem couldn't protect Yaakov from
this sin, because He too understood that it was necessary.

 

>From the above statement and many similar ones, we can conclude (like it or
not) that in Judaism, the ends may very well justify the means. I know
there'll be a lot of disagreement about it, but if you are honest with
yourself, you will agree that it's a principle often times adhered to.  We
have many examples in tanach of this. It reminds me of being allowed to
commit a lesser aveira to prevent a greater one. Most of the cases deal with
doing an Isur d'Rabanan to prevent an Isur 
d'Oraisa. There are even cases cases where d'Oraisas can and must be
sacrificed to save a Jewish girl from Shmad. Again, the ends justify the
means.
 
Also, I'm reminded of the episode of Hillel and the Ger who wanted to become
Jewish on condition that he could become a Kohen Gadol (Shabbos 31a). How
could Hillel mislead this prospective Ger into thinking that he could become
a Kohen Gadol when that was plainly impossible? The answer is that it was
necessary to attract the Ger psychologically as 
Hillel was able to do so brilliantly as a result of the warmth and humility
of his character. In this case, the ends justified the means.
 
Many things done in a Kiruv situation (with Jews) involve turning a blind
eye to their aveiros in order to impart the desire to them to return to the
fold.
 
So yes, the ends could certainly justify the means.
 
Kol tuv/Best regards.
ri   
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20071114/b29e7bae/attachment-0001.htm>