Q&A: Desecration of God’s Name
Desecration of God’s Name
Question
Some people say that it is a desecration of God’s name to hold prayer quorums at the airport (abroad, among non-Jews). Is that true? And why?
Answer
Ask them. I don’t see any problem with it.
Discussion on Answer
You live in France, and I’m not familiar with the reality there. I know that there is great sensitivity there regarding the separation of religion and state, especially in the public domain. That’s why they oppose burqas in the public domain and on the beach, etc.
In my opinion, that’s ugly anti-religious nonsense. It’s nobody’s business what I do in the public domain as long as it doesn’t actually bother them. If it bothers them ideologically, they should take a pill and get over it. If it’s permitted to sing and dance and demonstrate and express opinions and hold pride parades in the public domain, then it’s also permitted to pray.
But doesn’t desecration of God’s name itself depend on causing ideological offense to someone else?
If I do something religious that bothers him, that will make him think, “Ugh, this is Judaism, there you go, the Jews, etc.,” and that itself is a desecration of God’s name? (Of course, common sense applies: if I’m just walking down the street and it bothers only him, and it’s not an accepted standard that such a thing should bother people, then one need not take him into account.)
Absolutely not. Offending antisemites merely by engaging in your religious worship is not a desecration of God’s name. That is surrender to terror.
Why is there no problem? Abroad, the public sphere is secular, and in the view of non-Jews, seeing a group of people praying and making noise bothers them. They say, “They have a synagogue, let them go there; I don’t want to see people praying.” It’s not only the noise that bothers them, but even the sight itself. Religion is something private and shouldn’t be displayed everywhere. Just as it would bother me if I were walking down the street and saw a group of people bowing on a carpet in the middle of the street.
Why don’t you agree?