Dear Rabbi Simon,
Someone keeps signing me up for email lists without my permission, which is really frustrating. As a Jew, am I allowed to hate him for this? Is hate allowed under God’s law?
Thanks,
Emily
Hi Email-y
Thank you for your interesting questions.
The Torah certainly discourages hatred in general, even towards our enemies and those who have harmed us grievously (see Deut. 23:8). Hating a fellow Jew is expressly forbidden (19:17), however there are exceptions for incorrigible villains. See Ex. 23:5 and commentaries.
Bottom line, hatred is an emotion to be reserved only in extreme circumstances. As a general perspective, hatred is damaging to both the hater and the hated and should be avoided. Nevertheless, one can certainly take measures to protect oneself from the malice of others, be they Jewish or otherwise. Similarly, in a case of illegal behaviour, one can turn to the justice system, if need be. You do not have to suffer in silence.
In the case that you mention, I would think that there are remedies to be free of the irritation of someone subscribing you to unwanted email lists. A techie may be able to help.
Finally, a direct approach to the malefactor (or perhaps through an intermediary, if necessary), may prove to be effective. Communication is key (and works better than hatred).
I hope these reflections are useful.
חברים כל ישראל
Rabbi Rashi Simon