Qitzur Shulchan Arukh – 183:4

ד: אָסוּר לִמְסֹר ישְׂרָאֵל בְּיַד גּוֹיִם, בֵּין גּוּפּוֹ בֵּין מָמוֹנוֹ, בֵּין בְּמַעֲשֶׂה בֵּין בְּדִבּוּר, לְהַלְשִׁין עָלָיו אוֹ לְגַלוֹת מַצְפּוּנָיו. וְכָל הַמּוֹסֵר, אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וַאֲפִלּוּ רָשָׁע וּבַעַל עֲבֵרוֹת, אָסוּר לְמָסְרוֹ לֹא גוּפּוֹ וְלֹא מָמוֹנוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ הוּא מֵצֵר לוֹ וּמְצַעֲרוֹ תָמִיד בִּדְבָרִים. אֲבָל אִם חֲבֵרוֹ מוֹסֵר אוֹתוֹ וְאִי-אֶפְֹשָר לְהַצִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁיִמְסֹר אוֹתוֹ, מֻתָּר

If it prohibited to surrender on a Jew to the control of non-Jews, whether bodily or with respect to his money, whether through action or speech, to inform on him or to reveal his hiding place. Whomever surrenders [a fellow Jew] has no place in the World to Come. Even someone who is evil and a master of sin, it is prohibited to turn him over, neither his body or his money. Even if he is a troublemaker to him and causes him problems constantly with his words. However, if his friend turns him in, and there is no way to save himself except through turning in [the informer] it is permitted.


None of the above applies to eliminating someone who is dangerous to the community who can not be removed in some other way. In other words, while informing on a fellow Jew to non-Jewish authorities is prohibited, allowing a child molester (for example) to continue posing a danger to our children is a greater prohibition. If someone finds themselves in this situation, one must consult with communal leaders to see if the authorities are a necessary means of getting him off the streets, and if so, speak with rabbis about the permissible way to do so.

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *