We discussed the mitzvah of taking down the body of someone killed and hung for sinning, the reason for which the pasuk explains “for the curse of G-d is the hanged one”. Elaborates the Targum; the reason we must take him down is because he was killed for sinning against Hashem. The Mishna explains this further; “…that people will say “Why was this fellow hung? Because he cursed Hashem!” So it turns out that the name of Hashem is disgraced.” Why indeed is Hashem’s name disgraced by this? Because when we talk of a king’s subjects as being unruly and rebellious, we disgrace their king. People say “What kind of kingdom is it when the subjects don’t listen to their king? What an impotent king!” We learn from here that talking about sinners is a desecration of Hahsem’s name, a chillul Hashem – even just talking about them!!
Another reason we try publicizing the least possible about criminals is because their very existence promotes crime. They are people who stand for crime. They make a pro-crime statement. And we don’t want to hear that statement. So we pretend they don’t exist!
How does this all fit in with the Torah concept of “let people hear and fear”, that people should be discouraged from crime by hearing of its consequences? I think that the difference is that a sudden, one time news of a criminal being punished has a shock effect on the one hearing it, and can deter him from evil. But a drawn-out type of business has the opposite effect. People get used to it, and it becomes familiar, and hence legitimate. And so we hang him up, all right, to scare everyone; but we quickly take him down too, before we begin to grow familiar with what he represents.
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