The Journal News Editorial Is Teaching About A Chillul H'Shem

In revered and instructive Jewish teachings, there are passages about "Chillul Hashem." It is with great respect that we note such teaching in regard to serious fire and building code violations in the Village of New Square, a closely knit religious community in Ramapo that cherishes its children in particular and sees their lives governed by biblical teachings and the Torah.

Yet the vulnerable, the children of not only New Square but the children of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders, are increasingly put in jeopardy by the code violations. A small fire could erupt there in such building density, with illegal add-ons made of materials that can feed a blaze and spread it to the next house and the next and so on. A conflagration could occur.

Would such threat to life, in and out of the village, not be a "Chillul Hashem," a desecration of God's name?

Gordon Wren Jr., the Rockland fire and emergency services coordinator, says of New Square: "We have a mess we need to straighten out, and for the first time in a while I feel positive. The right guy from the state is spearheading (review), and we have been having cooperation from residents."