Our response: Kiddush Hashem & Chilul Hashem
As are most of you, I am heartbroken and enraged. Though our people have endured nearly 4,000 years of persecution, the hatred unleashed since Oct. 7 feels different. Once, after tragedies, there was at least a pause, a moment when the world seemed to remember its conscience.
But now? The attacks, the slanders, the blood libels don’t stop.
When two dozen Jews were murdered or wounded in Australia, what followed was not silence or shame, but boos, calls for “jihad” and chants to “globalize the intifada.” Even as Jewish blood had barely dried, our enemies rejoiced.
That response is enough to rapidly send me to the Clint Eastwood school of justice — “Go ahead, make my day,” “Do you feel lucky today? Well, do ya’ punk?” or “I tried being reasonable. I didn’t like it” — swift, decisive and final — all from the barrel of a gun. Any other people would be expected, even justified in such a response, taking matters into their own hands after such outrages are thrust upon them. Why don’t we?
Mainly because of two porfound ideas — kiddush Hashem and chilul Hashem.
• • •
For centuries, as we lived in exile among others, our lives were regulated by the ethics and morality of Torah law. Thus living among non-Jews we became inordinately concerned and aware of any hint of chilul Hashem, for “what would the goyim say?”
We see in this this week’s parsha, Vayigash, as Yosef reveals himself to his brothers. Before doing so, he clears the room. Why? To keep the painful moment private, to avoid exposing the family’s flaws before strangers. This is sensitivity, humility — and a form of kiddush Hashem.
Our tradition teaches us to reflect G-d’s morality in our behavior. We are commanded not only to seek justice but to do so in ways that honor G-d’s name. That means acting with restraint, even when every bone in us demands vengeance.
This is not to say that punishment is unjust. On the contrary: Torah mandates systems of justice. The commandment to establish courts of justice was one of the seven Noahide commandments incumbent upon all people, even non-Jews.
Torah established arei miklat (cities of refuge for accidental killers) but also the death penalty for murderers.
What makes something a chilul Hashem? When Jews act in ways G-d would disapprove of — publicly violating Shabbat, mistreating the poor, or behaving unethically in business or leadership. But there is another layer: failing to act when we must. Standing idly by while Jews are attacked is also a chilul Hashem.
• • •
Those who hate us are unmoved by our restraint. We keep Torah. We uphold justice. We care for the stranger. So why does the world still turn on us?
Because much of what they’ve been taught is false.
We hold these truths to be not only self-evident but verifiable:
•The Jews introduced many of the foundational values of Western civilization.
•The Jewish people are, historically, among the most generous and peaceful — yet also the most persecuted in the world.
•Western civilization, through the development of capitalism and democratic systems, has raised out of poverty and tyranny the largest numbers of people in history.
Yet the world embraces lies. University students chant slogans rooted in blood libels. Protesters shout support for jihad. In some cases, they don’t even pretend it’s about Israel — they say outright they want to kill Jews.
This isn’t a geographic conflict. It’s not even just ideological. It’s religious. We’re attacked in Sydney, London, Antwerp, New York — not just Tel Aviv or Sderot — because we are Jews.
That’s why the story of Chanukah is so instructive.
The Seleucid-Greek empire wasn’t satisfied with political control. They sought spiritual domination — banning Torah learning, outlawing circumcision, defiling the Temple. Mattityahu’s revolt was not political, it was religious. When he cried out, “Mi l’Hashem elai” (Whoever is for G-d, join me), he made his purpose clear: not personal vengeance, but the defense of G-d’s truth.
• • •
If the Greeks had allowed Jews to practice their faith freely, there would have been no need to revolt. In fact, this is what the prophet Yirmiyahu had urged before the Babylonian conquest: return to Hashem and the Temple would be spared. But Tzidkiyahu, king of Judea at the time, failed to acknowledge this and was defeated, and the horrible consequences of massive destruction followed.
Today, the stakes are again high. When Jews are assaulted, vilified and murdered and we do not respond, we risk desecrating G-d’s name. But when we defend ourselves, we sanctify His name.
Baruch Hashem, in the face of unprecedented hatred, the people of Israel have not stayed silent and have not bowed.
Now, while we celebrate the victories and miracles that Hashem bestowed upon us these past two-and-a-half years, we also remember that Ron Gvilli’s body, hy”d, is still in Gaza, and we demand that governments protect their Jewish citizens. If they will not, we will.
At the same time, let us be grateful that we are blessed to have a Jewish state, Jewish soldiers, and leaders willing to act, pursuing our enemies wherever they are found.
Am k’lavi yakum (“Israel rises like a lion”) is not just a pasuk or slogan — it is our national policy.
Am Yisrael Chai. Shabbat Shalom.
Write: Columnist@TheJewishStar.com
