Pursuant to the two previous posts...
"Said R. Papa to Abaye: How is it that for the former generations miracles were performed
and for us miracles are not performed?
He replied: The former generations used to be ready to sacrifice their lives for the sanctity of [God's] name [קידוש השם]; we do not sacrifice our lives for the sanctity of [God's] name. There was the case of R. Adda b. Ahaba who saw a heathen woman wearing a red head-dress in the street [considered immodest garb worn by prostitutes], and thinking that she was an Israelite woman, he rose and tore it from her. It turned out that she was a heathen woman, and they fined him four hundred zuz. He said to her: What is your name. She replied: Mathun. Mathun, he said to her: that makes four hundred zuz."
[The Aramaic for two hundred is mathan. Mathun also means 'deliberate'; had he been less rash he would have saved himself 400 zuz, there is here a double play on words.] (Soncino Trans.)
Asked Rav Soloveitchik: On the surface, this is NOT a Kiddush Hashem but a Chilul Hashem. People are going to say that Jews are NUTS! Zealots!
He explained that this gemara helps us redefine Kiddush Hashem. Kiddush Hashem is NOT necessarily doing what finds favor in the eyes of the Gentiles but what finds favor in the eyes of Hashem. So even an act which the Gentiles will interpret negatively is a Kiddush Hashem if consistent with the will of Hashem.
There is more to say but we will leave off with that for now:-).
