They Call It Chillul Hashem and Kiddush Hashem

Excerpts from an Article in last week issue of Yated Ne'eman written by  Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum - May 6, 2020 "Covid19 The frum Media Glossary" Read full article at Yated.com

Those  who call themselves “frum media” and, due to a combination of sheer ignorance and a desire to bait people to click, cause irreparable damage to Hashem and His people. Most are online “news” sites and blogs, both in English and in Hebrew, but they periodically exist in print media, as well....
"There are both cardinal and secondary offenders in this area. Cardinal offenders shamelessly post anything that will bring people to their website, regardless of whether it is true or false, wrong or right. They generally also bandy about righteous-sounding terms that are usually used incorrectly and are misleading.
A few examples of such terms are “chillul Hashem,” “kiddush Hashem” and, in use of late, “eivah.” Of course, universal terms like anti-Semitism are also thrown around without thought as to how they are defining the term.

Chillul Hashem and Kiddush Hashem
Ever since we were small children, we have been admonished by teachers, parents and figures of authority that when venturing beyond our own neighborhoods, we should try to make a kiddush Hashem and not cause a chillul Hashem.



Firstly, I am reminded of an incident related by Rav Dovid Kresch, menahel of Yeshivas Novominsk. He recalled: “It was during summer camp and we were about to go on a trip. I got up to give a speech to the bochurim about the imperative of making a kiddush Hashem when they go to places outside the yeshiva. When I finished, the Novominsker Rebbe rose and said, ‘I would like to disagree with the menahel! You don’t have to behave in an exemplary way because it makes a kiddush Hashem. You have to behave that way because that is the emes! That is the right thing to do! Yes, an outgrowth of that behavior will be a kiddush Hashem.’”

 Those  who call themselves “frum media” and, due to a combination of sheer ignorance and a desire to bait people to click, cause irreparable damage to Hashem and His people. Most are online “news” sites and blogs, both in English and in Hebrew, but they periodically exist in print media, as well.

It is clear that the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem and the aveirah of chillul Hashem are primarily applicable to other Jews. The posuk that commands kiddush Hashem, “Venikdashti b’soch Bnei Yisroel,” is in this week’s parsha. Anyone who wants a better understanding of this mitzvah is welcome to peruse the Rishonim on that posuk.

Thus, when “frum media” tell us that someone made a chillul Hashem by leaving a wrapper in a public park and someone made a kiddush Hashem because he gave a quarter to a minority beggar on the street, they are just confusing us, making us think that kiddush Hashem or chillul Hashem means to do things that will make gentiles think you are “normal” and not do things that will make them think you are not “normal.” Certainly, as the Novominsker Rebbe said, one should never do things that are wrong. Leaving a wrapper in a public place (or anywhere besides the garbage) is wrong, but that is not how we measure chillul or kiddush Hashem with blaring headlines.

If one would follow some of our online “media,” one would think that the ultimate kiddush Hashem is Chaveirim changing a flat tire for a Hispanic or African-American woman. Don’t get me wrong. That is indeed a wonderful thing, but certainly, a yeshiva bochur walking in the street who makes a conscious decision to avert his eyes from seeing something inappropriate is engaging in kiddush sheim Shomayim. He is sanctifying Hashem’s Name by giving his retzonos over to Hashem. A person whose tongue is tingling with a juicy piece of gossip that will be a slam dunk comment in the conversation, making him/her look great, and refrains from saying it in honor of Hashem is engaging in a conscious act of kiddush Hashem, while fulfilling several positive commandments and refraining from negative commandments. (See introduction to Sefer Chofetz Chaim.) A person who refrains from wearing a flattering article of clothing because it is not completely in accordance with the halachos of tznius is engaged in kiddush Hashem. This has nothing to do with wrappers in parks or helping old ladies cross the street. I wish the terms kiddush Hashem and chillul Hashem would not be so foolishly used. It just causes confusion and is plain wrong.

Eivah

We cannot, however, selectively use the concept of eivah when it suits us and ignore it when it doesn’t. We don’t necessarily create eivah by one single action. Usually, it is an aggregate, a combination of many actions over time that creates eivah, attracting the unwelcome eye of the secular media. Just because we can do something by virtue of our numbers or political power does not mean that we should.
When we use our power, especially in government, in a way that conspicuously draws attention to that power, and especially when it impacts our neighbors in a very stark way, whether it is the way we drive our cars, the way we build and develop or manage our properties, the way we seem to flaunt the norms of appropriate conduct in a public place such as an airport, or a street funeral, we are showing a volatile combination of ignorance and arrogance that is lethal for our future.....

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