What Is the Charedi View on Damaging Public Property, Setting Fires, or Writing Graffiti?
The Torah’s position is clear: acts of vandalism, destruction of property, and public disorder have no place in a Torah lifestyle. Whether it’s setting dumpsters on fire, scrawling graffiti, or breaking bus stops, such behavior is absolutely forbidden, no matter what cause it claims to represent.
And yet, from time to time, we see images in the media showing “Charedi-looking” individuals involved in such acts. What is the Charedi community’s real stance on this?
1. Halachically, It Is Pure Theft and Destruction
"לא תגנובו ולא תכחשו ולא תשקרו איש בעמיתו"
“You shall not steal, you shall not deny falsely, and you shall not lie to one another.”
— Vayikra 19:11¹
"בל תשחית את עצה... לא תשחית את עצה"
“You shall not destroy its trees...”
— Devarim 20:19²
From these pesukim, Chazal derive the prohibition of bal tashchis—it is assur to cause needless destruction. Damaging property—whether it belongs to a private person, a municipality, or a government—falls under the issur of both gezel (theft) and bal tashchis.
Even if the intent is to “protest” some injustice, halacha never permits wrongdoing for a supposed greater good.
As the Rambam rules:
"אסור לאבד או לקלקל דבר שהוא ראוי ליהנות בו..."
“It is forbidden to destroy anything that could be of use…”
— Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 6:10³
Burning garbage bins or smashing windows is not a political act in the eyes of halacha. It’s a sin.
2. Gedolim Have Consistently Condemned This Behavior
The Chazon Ish zt”l was famous for his opposition to any type of militant or violent activism. He taught that even when facing ideological opposition, the path of darchei noam—pleasantness—is the only Torah-true path.
“A Jew’s strength is in his Torah, not in his fists.”
— The Chazon Ish, Maaseh Ish, Vol. 4⁴
Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l would often lament when he saw young men, even in traditional dress, acting wildly in the streets. He reportedly said:
“They think they are doing a mitzvah, but they are causing a chilul Hashem and bringing hatred upon Torah.”
Rav Elyashiv zt”l, when asked about boys who block roads or scrawl anti-Zionist graffiti, said plainly:
“They are not following daas Torah. This is not our way.”
3. Just Because Someone Looks Charedi Doesn’t Mean They Represent Torah
Some of the worst incidents of vandalism or rioting attributed to “Charedim” are actually carried out by small, fringe groups such as the Sikrikim or extremists from the Peleg Yerushalmi faction. These groups do not follow Gedolim and are often condemned by the broader Charedi world.
The media, however, rarely makes distinctions. They show an image of someone in a black hat or peyos, and assume that person represents the Charedi community as a whole.
This is simply false.
4. A Chilul Hashem of the Highest Order
Beyond the issurim of theft or destruction, these acts often constitute a massive Chilul Hashem—a desecration of Hashem’s Name.
"ואהבת את ה' אלקיך... שיהא שם שמים מתאהב על ידך."
“You shall love Hashem… that the Name of Heaven should become beloved through you.”
— Yoma 86a⁵
When Torah Jews act with derech eretz, people say: Ashrei mi shelamdo Torah—how beautiful the Torah must be.
But when Jews in yeshivish attire vandalize property or shout insults in the streets, they cause the opposite: disgrace to Torah, shame to Hashem, and a loss of respect for mitzvah observance.
This is not the Torah way.
5. What Then Is the Torah Way to Protest or Disagree?
If a government policy threatens Torah life, the Charedi response is to:
- Gather together for peaceful atzeres tefillah
- Petition leaders through legal means
- Speak respectfully, through Torah-minded channels
- And above all, to respond spiritually—with more Torah, tefillah, and chessed
This is the derech we’ve inherited from generations of Gedolim, from the Chasam Sofer to Rav Shach to Rav Chaim Kanievsky.
Not one of them ever endorsed property damage. Not one.
Conclusion: Torah Without Derech Eretz Is Not Torah
The Charedi community is not perfect, but it strives to be guided by Torah and by its leaders. When isolated individuals or radical groups engage in destructive acts, they are not acting in the name of Torah, even if they dress the part.
And as Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l once said:
“It is better to be called passive than to be responsible for a chilul Hashem.”
We fight for Torah—but with Torah.
Sources and Footnotes
- Vayikra 19:11 – prohibiting theft and dishonesty
- Devarim 20:19 – source for bal tashchis
- Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 6:10 – issur of destruction
- Maaseh Ish, Vol. 4 – statements of the Chazon Ish
- Yoma 86a – definition of Kiddush Hashem and Chilul Hashem