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<p class="quote"
style="text-align: justify; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><font
face="Arial Narrow" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><span style="">Steipler
Rav (Within the Domain of Gedolei
Torah Vol 2 page 557-560): </span></span></font></b>The rav of
Komemiyus, Rav
Binyamin Mendelson approached Rav Shlomo Lorenz concerning someone who
had
committed a crime in the past. Then he had been sentenced to a number
of years
of jail – but had been placed on probation and wasn’t imprisoned.<span
style=""> </span>However the person eventually committed the
crime again and now was being tried a second time. Rav Mendelson said
that he
knew this person and felt he deserved mercy - especially for his wife
and
children. Therefore he said there was an obligation to try to keep him
out of
jail - not only for the sake of his family - but because it was obvious
that
being in jail with hardened criminals would not serve to rehabilitate
him.
Therefore Rav Mendelson asked me to testify as a character witness at
the trial
to try and stop the jail sentence. </p>
<p class="quote"
style="text-align: justify; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><font
face="Arial Narrow" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span
style="">Rav Lorenz told him that while normally he
would readily agree to whatever he asked. However in this case he knew
that his
testifying in court to aid a criminal would become public knowledge.
This would
cause a chilul HaShem because it would create the impression that the
representative
of the Torah world not only identified with the criminal but also
offered him
assistance. Therefore he told Rav Mendelson that he wanted to consult
with the
Steipler Rav before he did anything. Rav Mendelson agreed but requested
that
the Vishnitzer Rebbe also be consulted. </span></span></font></p>
<p class="quote"
style="text-align: justify; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><font
face="Arial Narrow" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span
style="">When Rav Lorenz told the story to the
Steipler Rav, the Steipler screamed, “A Jew who sins and repeats that
sin, it
is better that he be punished in this world and not – G‑d forbid – in
the World
to Come.” He explained, “The punishment in this world is minor compared
to what
happens in the World to Come. Furthermore if you succeed in stopping
the jail
sentence he will continue to repeatedly commit this crime. It is better
that he
receive his punishment and perhaps learn self‑restraint…In addition if
I give
you permission and you testify for his benefit it is obvious that every
newspaper and all the public media will publicize the matter and it
will also
be a chilul HaShem when he sins again…”</span></span></font></p>
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