Here is a simple distinction - how we beahve towards our fellow Jews - as opossed to Gentiles - are set by a different criteria <br><br>Let me reiterate what I consider a core Torah Princciple - Kedoshim [QTYD} is about fostering a mamleches kohanim vgomer
<br>Or as I term it" Aa JUST and HOLY society"<br><br>As a SOCIETY" Ribis and LH would foster eretz ochecls yoshveha c"v. We must have a co-operative and mutally respectful [even LOVING] society all based upon v'havta lerei'acha kamocha etc..... Thus we have a strict code of conductt to foster achicha, amecha. amisecha, etc.
<br><br>With a Gentile, these practices fall under a different rubric. Ribis is OK because it is not necessarily intrinsically evil just unaccepatble within our society. Perhaps charging a Gentile exorbitant usury would be immoral - but for other reasons.
<br><br>With LH the criteria for keeping a unified loving society is different than the criteria for avoiding self-destructive behavior. LH about a fellow Jew- especially a fellow Observant Jew - must be allowed only under a real need. The need to say LH about a Gentile might meet a much lower threshold, any objective or obnoxious behavior by a Gentile might produce a legitimate To'eles... etc.
<br><br>Think of Am Yisroel as a big family and that behavior within that unit must be on a very high plane. Behavior re: Gentiles is held to a much looser standard so long as it does not produce Hillul Hashem, violate gezel, or damge one's own nehsama, there is more room to maneuver.
<br><br>-- <br>Kol Tuv / Best Regards,<br><a href="mailto:RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com">RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com</a><br>see: <a href="http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/">http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/</a>