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See https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/1852131/jewish-owned-company-donates-500-gallons-of-hand-sanitizer-to-front-line-workers.html
also https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/1851869/kiddush-hashem-thousands-of-orthodox-jews-line-up-to-get-tested-for-plasma-in-flatbush-boro-park-baltimore.htmlNot specific to these examples, but speaking generally what constitutes a Kiddush Hashem or not is not determined by what is published in Yated, Hamodia, Yeshiva World, the New York Times or any other publication.
I agree with the sentiment here. I think the term ‘Kiddish HaShem’ gets way over used, and very much misused by the ‘frum’ media. (Similarly there is barely ever a ‘Kiddush HaShem’ article that the commentators can come to consensus on its indeed being a kiddush or chillul HaShem.)
I invite Rabbi Hoffman to write an article for YWN on the halachic and Chazal deliniations of what a true Kiddush HaShem is.
On that note: One ha’orah is that it is wrong to think that kiddush/chillul HaShem is only defined as a function of perception by others or the masses, since in Pirkei Avos [4:4] we see “ רבי יוחנן בן ברוקא אומר כל המחלל שם שמים בסתר. נפרעין ממנו בגלוי”, so we see there is clearly such a thing as a Chillul HaShem in private. I think the Maharal might make this point, but I haven’t gone to look it up again right now.
A real Kiddush Hashem is doing a mitzvah in front of ten Yidden. Like learning Torah in a Beis Medrash.
This whole business of looking good by the Goyim is completely secondary, if even that much.
Chazal say שיהא שם שמים מתאהב על ידך . This is of course based on the first פסוק of שמע. Hope this helps RE.
“This whole business of looking good by the Goyim is completely secondary, if even that much.”
Unclear what “if even that much” means
It is important to “look good by the Goyim” *It has lately become fashionable in some circles to deny this for whatever reason.
However 1) definitions can change even if it technically isnt a “kiddush Hashem” it clearly is still a good thing
and 2) we find it called Kiddush Hashem by Risho0nim. See Rambam Gezeila 11:3 אֲבֵדַת עוֹבֵד עַכּוּ”ם מֻתֶּרֶת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר “אֲבֵדַת אָחִיךָ”. וְהַמַּחֲזִירָהּ הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר עֲבֵרָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא מַחֲזִיק יַד רִשְׁעֵי עוֹלָם. וְאִם הֶחֱזִירָהּ לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת הַשֵּׁם כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּפָאֲרוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיֵדְעוּ שֶׁהֵם בַּעֲלֵי אֱמוּנָה הֲרֵי
זֶה מְשֻׁבָּח*That said most of “kiddush Hashem” stories are idiotic, and if anything serve to highlight what a low opinion some people have of Heimish yidden. Wow amazing a Yid said good morning and didn’t slam the door in a person’s face what a Kiddush Hashem!
RE are you saying the פירסום is the עיקר or the mayseh itself?
Reb Eliezer, you’re making the same point as I, in your most recent comment.
RE. In your conception do the 10 have to be together like a minyan to shaf the קידוש השם?
“This whole business of looking good by the Goyim is completely secondary, if even that much.”
one of the dafim this week is explciit that looking good in fornt of Goyim is a “kiddush Hashem”
Yevamos 79 a relates
In regard to the hanging of Shaul’s descendants which violated a pasuk in the TorahThe Gemara says
טאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק: מוּטָב שֶׁתֵּעָקֵר אוֹת אַחַת מִן הַתּוֹרָה, וְיִתְקַדֵּשׁ שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא. שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְרִים וְשָׁבִים אוֹמְרִים: מָה טִיבָן שֶׁל אֵלּוּ? הַלָּלוּ בְּנֵי מְלָכִים הֵם. וּמָה עָשׂוּ? פָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בְּגֵרִים גְּרוּרִים. אָמְרוּ: אֵין לְךָ אוּמָּה שֶׁרְאוּיָה לְהִדָּבֵק בָּהּ כָּזוֹ.
It is clear these “ovrim veshavim” were not Jewish
“Secondary”.
ubi, indeed, I noticed that also. To clarify what is Kiddush Hashem here: inappropriately vengeful Gibonim asked to give them 7 bnei Saul, hanged them and left them hang for seems like 6 months. Saul’s (and theirs, as princes?) guilt was that Gibonim lost their jobs after their clients – Kohanim of Nov – are killed. Publicity of public hanging is an equivalent to modern papers or social media … So, when people saw that princes can be punished for sins against lowly gerim, then 150,000 converted to become Jewish seeing such just and non-corrupt society.
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