Torah For Today! This week: Borat and Rudy Giuliani
Rabbi Daniel Friedman reflects on Sacha Baron Cohen duping politicians
In the most infamous scene of Borat 2, Sacha Baron Cohen lures Rudy Giuliani into a compromising situation with his character’s daughter, Tutar (played by Maria Bakalova). While the parties dispute the outcome in real life, the scene begs the question of the permissibility of sting operations.
What does the Torah say about knowingly leading another to sin?
The Torah declares: “You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind,” a warning against any activity that might trip up some unsuspecting individual, literally or figuratively.
Is there any exception for a set-up, organised to determine whether the person will make the right decision and repent of their previous misdemeanours?
Egyptian viceroy Joseph recognises his sustenance-seeking brothers, and decides to play God. In an effort to test whether they had learnt their lesson and repented from their improper conduct towards him, he snatches their brother Benjamin.
Sure enough, they pass the test, placing their own lives on the line, rather than abandoning their brother.
Rema (YD334) rules that a Beth Din may excommunicate a repeat offender in order to push them to mend their ways, even though doing so runs the risk of further alienating them from Jewish practice.
Was Baron Cohen permitted to lie about his identity if he had a higher purpose in mind?
Our sages permit fibbing for the sake of shalom. God tells Abraham
a white lie about Sarah’s questioning of his ability to father children at an old age.
Indeed, in certain instances, misbehaviour is condoned for the sake of the greater good, such as when Moses smashes the Tablets.
Undoubtedly, these notions and situations are highly sensitive and run the risk of misapplication and abuse.
At the end of the day, Baron Cohen was motivated not by moral suasion but by ratings.
Who knows how many unsuspecting victims Borat ‘tested’ who didn’t fall for his shenanigans and missed out on the final cut?
- Rabbi Daniel Friedman serves Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
