By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com In the state of New York, as well as in 29 other states – there is a law called, “Dram Shop Liability.”  According to NYS Statute 11-101, legal responsibility for drunk driving accidents does not only rest solely with the driver. Rather, bars and taverns may also be liable for injuries stemming from drunk driving accidents caused by their customers. “But wait!” says the bartender. “I didn’t choose to drink and drive!  He exercised his own free will to do it!  It was the customer – not me!” “It doesn’t matter,” says the judge.  “The law is that you are responsible – even though, it was the decision or action of another.” THE SAME IS TRUE WITH CHILLUL HASHEM At times, our actions, words, and or activities may result in another party performing a Chillul Hashem.  It was our actions, however, our attitude, our words, our activities that caused it.  Words matter.  And the Ultimate Judge – Hashem, will hold us responsible for it. THREE PROOFS There are numerous proofs to this concept in Chazal.  We will briefly mention three. Zechariah was murdered in the Ezras nashim of the Beis HaMikdash. The Midrash tells us that he demonstrated a very tiny, microscopically subtle degree of gaavah – haughtiness.  Some members of Klal Yisroel were incensed. They killed him.  And the Midrash lays some of the blame for murder – on Zechariah himself. Nadav and Avihu were very picky in who they were planning to choose as a spouse. As a result, they remained single.  And it wasn’t just them who remained single.  Many women in Klal Yisroel chose to marry no one else but them.  They remained Agunos.  The Midrash tells us that Nadav and Avihu were to blame for this situation.  Hashem took them.  Even though it was the women who chose to marry no one else other than them.  Clearly, we are all looked at like the guilty bartender. The Chasam Sofer points out that the two commandments of “Not Cursing a Deaf Person” and “Do Not Cause Someone to Stumble” are both found in the same pasuk. All of the other surrounding commandments each have their own separate pasuk.  The reason is because, if you curse a deaf person – he won’t know that you cursed him.  He also won’t know to instantly forgive you.  You will be punished.  He would have caused your punishment, and he will also be punished because you were punished.  And you will also have violated Lifnei Iver – causing someone to stumble. SOMETIMES WE ARE SO CAUGHT UP WE FAIL TO REALIZE AN IMMINENT CHILLUL HASHEM In many disputes, things tend to spiral out of control.  And at times, the other party will do something beyond the pale.  At times, that something is a grave Chillul Hashem.  And make no mistake.  We are culpable.  We are responsible for the other party’s Chillul Hashem – because we brought him to it – even though it was his choice. THE BET There is a famous story about an employee who argued with his immediate supervisor that the supervisor had a huge black mole on his left shoulder and that he better go to a doctor and check it out.  The supervisor responded emphatically that he did not […]

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