Reply To: Aveirah L'Sheim Shamayim

The concept of an aveirah lishma is mentioned by the Shlah Hakadosh and was adopted by the early chassidic leaders as legitimate under certain circumstances. It is very closely related, possibly identical, to the concept of yeridas hatzaddik. For those chassidic leaders who espoused this possibility, all of the mentioned cases (Esther, Yehudah, Yael, etc..)are invoked. A corrollary to this issue, and one which is widely discussed in halachah, is the question of whether a minor transgression may be committed in order to avoid a more severe transgression.