Ethics

For the week ending 19 January 2008 / 12 Shevat 5768

Literary Littering

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt'l
Become a Supporter Library Library
Question: On my way to the office I noticed a flyer on the ground, which I picked up out of curiosity to know its contents. After seeing that it was not relevant to me in any way my impulse was to drop it on the already littered sidewalk. What is the right thing to do?

Answer: It is easy to understand your rationalization that you are not making this public area any filthier than it was before you picked up the flyer. But let us consider at least two reasons for your taking the trouble to place that paper in the nearest trashcan.

First of all, once you have picked up that flyer to study its contents it is your property and you have no more moral right to litter the sidewalk with it than you do with any of your other possessions.

Secondly, the onlooker who saw you throw it away but didn't see you pick it up in the first place assumes that you are just an inconsiderate litterbug and is encouraged to follow your bad example.

By the way, don't worry about the loss suffered by the advertiser since he had no right to promote his cause by littering at the expense of the public.

© 1995-2024 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to Ethics

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.