[Avodah] The Chilul Hashem of Disrespecting Non-Jews

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

One of my many pet peeves is the use of "chilul hasheim" to teach
ehrlachkeit. It may win the battle -- historically, it hasn't -- but it
does so by avoiding the war.

Mitzvos bein adam lachaveiro as important as mitzvos bein adam lachaveiro.
Derekh eretz is important as Chazal literally call it a prerequisite
for Torah.

Worrying about the bein adam laMaqom effects of the cheit misses the
point. And perhaps the reason why past attempts to change behavior by
talking about chillul hasheim haven't worked is that one is not teaching
the centrality of ehrlachkeit as a *primary* value.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 18th day, which is
micha at aishdas.org        2 weeks and 4 days in/toward the omer.
http://www.aishdas.org   Netzach sheb'Tifferes: What is imposing about
Fax: (270) 514-1507                             balance?