New York - While many are enjoying a well deserved day off today in honor of the Fourth of July, once again, many American Jews find themselves wondering if the observance of a secular holiday is something that runs counter to halacha.
In one of his legendary Thursday night shiurim in Flatbush, Rav Avigdor Miller, zt’l, prolific author, noted lecturer and mashgiach ruchani at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, was asked about open displays of patriotism on July 4th.
QUESTION:
Displaying the American flag, is that considered a gentile ideal?
ANSWER:
Let me tell you something, Fifty years ago I wouldn’t have spoken about that. I have been speaking more than fifty years in public; I didn’t speak about American flags. We don’t need it. Who needs American flags? It wasn’t necessary. Today I say, if you want to do it, I say Yasher Koach. Do you know why? Because all the Reshaim are trampling on the flag, and they’re trying to desecrate America. You know why? Not because they’re good goyim, because they are Reshaim Gemurim; the liberals are trying to ruin everything. And when that wicked Supreme Court permitted burning an American flag, and saying you can not make a law against it, it was a desecration of America.
After all, America is a good country. We came from countries where we were persecuted, and this country gave us all the rights. I would say we should kiss the ground of America. I was in Europe for some time; I went to study in the Yeshiva. I came back and I saw this was a blessed country; it’s a gift from Hashem to us. Shouldn’t we appreciate it? And therefore I say a Jew should hang out the flag. Yes; today yes. I won’t say you’re a sinner if you don’t, but I think it’s a good thing to hang out the flag today. It’s not a contradiction, not a contradiction by any means.
We hang out the flag from this Shul on the Fourth of July.
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