Originally posted by Chrawnus
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But the argument in this case revolves around whether the deceit or lie runs against morality. I think this case (the Nazi at the door) brings out the complexity ad ambiguity of the relationship between sin and commandments, and what the commandments really mean for us.
One point I would add, the very act of hiding the Jew is an act of deception, and so is a form of lie. Anyone who has raised teenagers have dealt with the myriad ways rules can be bent. As soon as the rule is accepted that it is wrong to hide Jews, any skirting of that rule is really breaking the rule. If one does not recognize the validity of the rule (of hiding Jews), then the discussion revolves around whether an unjust law or rule is really a law.
I believe that this discussion is really a discussion on the natural law, not sure that any other approach would leave us with what would otherwise be a recognized morality. So Schindler, who used lying, is either a monster if we accept the lie as sin, or a hero to emulate if that lie is not sin. We know G-d does not ever consider sin to be n appropriate response, but I do think Schindler responded in a moral manner and so is a moral exemplar for his action.
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