Do we have a right to not be ambassadors?

Question

The expression Or LaGoyim is thrown around a lot, but generally it means that we have a duty to be good ambassadors for G-d.

But what if we're tired, or we're in a hurry, or we're just not in an outgoing mood?

Do we have a right to just keep our heads down and keep to ourselves?

I'm specifically not asking about situations of danger to life or where one is being excessively harassed or insulted.  Just for no particular reason.  Someone needs a tire changed, or a stranger approaches you with a question about your Kippah.  Do we ever have a right, under normal circumstances, to decline to be an Or LaGoyim or attempt* a Kiddush HaShem?

_{*I say attempt a Kiddush HaShem for two reasons:  1) You never know if your actions will result in a Kiddush HaShem.  2) By declining, you may in fact be creating a Hillul HaShem, but you may never know if that is the case.}

Answer 1

This article from Arachim discusses the concept of "אור לגויים" in our times.

The message of the article, in my words, is:

"The concept of "Light unto the nations" means that we should be a symbol and an example of spiritual elevation and elevated and refined human relationships.

We stand constantly in, so to speak, the shop window of the world, and we are examined with a magnifying glass. If we are worthy, we are a good example, and in our merit there should be a change for the better in the whole world."

From the expression and the reality that we are constantly being scrutinised, it seems that there is no time when we can decline to be an Or LaGoyim.

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(BTW, the source for Kiddush Hashem is Vayikro 22 (32)

וְלֹא תְחַלְּלוּ אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי הֹ מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם:

“You shall not desecrate My Holy Name. I shall be sanctified amidst the children of Israel. I am the Lord Who sanctifies you,” which seems to specify amongst the children of Israel. I was taught that the main Kiddush Hashem is בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.)

Answer 2

I believe that you have unwittingly conflated two separate concepts here. Being an Or Lagoyim is a concept mention three times in Yeshayahu, as delineated and discussed in this excellent Wikipedia article. What seems to come together from those verses, as well as from the broad number of commentators on those sources (ranging from the Radak to Rav Kook, the Netziv to Ben Gurion and Jabotinsky) is that the concept of Or Lagoyim applies to the nation as a whole, and not specifically to any individual. We, as a nation following the moral precepts of the Torah, are to be a light unto the nations of the world, leading the way in devotion to morality. Being that it is something that functions on the national level, I don't believe that it would require you to necessarily feel responsible to defend or expound upon Judaism to any random inquirer. I would say though that it has everything to do with running your business according to halacha, which of course includes dina demalchusa, as a representative example of our national morality.

Kiddush Hashem on the other hand also would not require you to give a detailed response. The mitzva of kiddush hashem, again as per this wonderful Wiki article, has three main components:

1. Giving up one's life not to violate the "big 3"
2. Reciting certain parts of prayer with ten men
3. Acting in a polite and honorable manner The part of the mitzva you seem to be referring to is this last one, and is discussed in the Rambam Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah 5:11, based on Yome 86b, and states that a Torah Jew must act in a polite, genteel, cheerful, responsible manner with all those he comes in contact with. It would not seem though, that this would obligate you to take time out to answer someone's random inquiry about Judaism, not to change someone's tire if you are not able to just at that moment.

Once the Or Lagoyim issue no longer requires you to give a detailed response to the inquirer, I would say that the mitzva of Kiddush Hashem would just require you to dispatch them in a polite and respectful way.

Answer 3

Or LaGoyim is indeed thrown around a lot. But I'm not sure where its source is. The question really should be, from where do we even know that we ever need to be a light unto the nations? Who says? It's a rather disputed idea, just how much we need to spread holiness.

Indeed, the question of chilul hashem is a seperate one. But that's a real Halacha. If you think it'll cause a desecration of God, you being tired doesn't matter. You wouldn't say "I'm tired so I guess no tefillen today"...

Answer 4

NO! Based on the video, which I posted, we are supposed to be

אור לגויים

Check out this video, it gives many answers to the related topic, and as well to many unanswered questions.

R. Osher Baddiel, London: "Was machen wir hier?