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1. pascha bchochma
   Member

   I do not work in a Jewish environment, and have been told several stories of chillul Hashems perpetrated by my fellow Orthodox Jews, in real life and online. I bow my head in shame because what else can I do? Sometimes I say something like, yes we all make mistakes, not everyone has perfect fear of G-d but that's what we strive for.

   I feel that the Internet has made Yiras Shamayim not only more necessary for protecting ourselves from aveiros, but a real litmus test of Yashrus and Yiras Shamayim. Now that we can so easily do things forbidden to us, we can know exactly how high our Yiras Shamayim is and our real Yashrus standards.

   On the internet, it is <b>even more important</b> to act at all times with the awareness that the whole world is watching - both online and in real life.

   Please reflect well on other Jews!

   What are some things we can do to make a Kiddush Hashem and strengthen our Yiras Shamayim and Yashrus?

   Here are some of my humble suggestions, please add some of your own:

   <u>Making A Kiddush Hashem Online:</u>
   1. Not using derogatory words to describe other groups, Jewish or Not.

   2. Not discussing heterim to do illegal things.

   3. Not asking after a news article about a tragedy, "were any jews involved?" We value all life.

   4. What ideas do you have for us to increase Yiras Shamayim and make a kiddush Hashem, especially online?

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. myfriend
   Joseph

   We frumme Yidden make far far more Kiddushei Hashem's than Chillul Hashem's.

   And it does matter, a great deal in fact, whether one of our brothers were involved in a tragedy.

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. WIY
   Member

   Pascha
   Can you elaborate on what those chillul Hashem stories were? How do you know that what you were told is how it happened? Why are you so quick to accept Loshon Hora on your brothers and sisters?

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. pascha bchochma
   Member

   My Friend: We frumme Yidden make far far more Kiddushei Hashem's than Chillul Hashem's.
   ---------------
   Or so you think. Please check out the media and the real world.
   You may not find something offensive, but a nonJew senses an underlying attitude of "we are superior" and if we, and our representatives, do not behave completely above board, they are shocked and upset.

   Hashem does not want us to behave as if only our blood is red. Part of being special, is suffering with everyone else's suffering and giving no one any reason to even think that we don't care about them because they are not one of us.

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. pascha bchochma
   Member

   Back to topic. How can we make a greater Kiddush Hashem on the internet? MOst of us are active in places other that YWN (which is also read by non-jews, btw.)

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. myfriend
   Joseph

   pascha:

   Stop believing the sheker in the media about frumme Yidden. It is 99.9+% false. 99.999% of what frumme yidden do are kidushei Hashem.

   Posted 2 years ago #

7. pascha bchochma
   Member

   WIY: Sure, but please go easy on details since I have to protect my identity and work with very educated people. If you think you know me, you don't! (based on what I have posted in the CR anyway)

   Example 1: Coworker A lives near a rather large Chassidish community and is involved in the town budget. Coworker angrily informs me that "the Hassids are trying to take over the town and are making every single building a religious institution so they won't have to pay taxes." Not only that, they have dome something illegal to allow them to build. While I'm not mekabel it completely, do they realize that if they behaved above board, they would have a much more positive reaction from the populace?

   Example 2: Coworker B thinks Hassidic girls are cute. Coworker B asks me if I often go to [insert name of expensive store]. I have barely heard of it (my family is not rich.) Coworker B informs me that "All the Hassidic girls shop there." This follows a conversation where they mentioned how government programs for the poor are used by 'hassids'.

   This has taught me that we think it doesn't matter, but everything we do is scrutinized. If having Yiras Shamayim isn't enough to keep you from being super honest in your dealings with non-Jews, please think about the Orthodox Jews who will have to work with them in the future.

   Posted 2 years ago #

8. myfriend
   Joseph

   pashca:

   You need a few lessons to help you brush up on your dan lkaf zchus skills.

   Stop believing all the sheker out there.

   Posted 2 years ago #

9. WIY
   Member

   Pascha
   Are you referring to frum Jews? Or Jews in general? Yes there are many non frum Jews who have made chillul Hashems. Madoff...what's your point?

   Posted 2 years ago #

10. WIY
    Member

    Pascha bchochma
    Its a big problem when they know one or 2 or even a few frum people and they generalize based on that. You should make it clear that there are exceptions but by and large most Jews are honest hardworking law abiding citizens.

    Posted 2 years ago #

11. SJSinNYC
    always pleasant

    myfriend, you seem to like to sweep problems in the frum community under the rug. I hope you are never in a situation where you need people to believe that someone from the frum community may have done something not 100% kosher.

    Posted 2 years ago #

12. pascha bchochma
    Member

    myfriend: they're not making it up, unfortunately. If I said the real details you would agree with me, but I obviously can't.

    WIY: Frum Jews.

    Posted 2 years ago #

13. apushatayid
    Member

    To a non jew, a jew is a jew. I personally have been called "a hasid" by non jews and I look nothing like a chassid. I've been called Rabbi too and I do nothing to perpetuate such a myth.

    Yes, its true that you cant lump "all hasids shop there" and "all hasids are on govt programs" together, and it is a ridiculous comment, for anyone to make. What is important is why someone would make such a statement and why they believe it to be true. When confronted with situations such as presented, I dont even try to answer "well, every group has its bad apples" or anything similar. I tackle it head on. I would answer, really, all hasidic girls shop there, you keep tabs on hasidic girls shopping habits that you can make such a statement?

    Off the topic: It sounds a bit funny that this person thinks (in your own words) that hassidic girls are cute. I would have shomrim keep an eye on this guy. Apparantly he keeps tabs on chassidish girls. He sounds like a pervert.

    Posted 2 years ago #

14. pascha bchochma
    Member

    WIY: I try very hard.

    apashuta - thank you for answering, I'm going to try your suggestion. And you're right - to a non-Jew, a jew is a jew is a jew, even if they differentiate between observant and non, the most extreme left wing MO is the same to them as a Satmar person. As for your off topic comment, I don't think it's something to worry about.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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