Q. My ex-yeshiva bochur friend, is a specialized forensic accountant that works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He expertly searches and traces funds that could be used for terrorism purposes or other illegal activities, that include the gathering of intelligence for foreign countries. He wants to know if he ever found in his searches funds that may have been paid to individuals providing illegally intelligence for Israeli institutions, should he abstain from informing and resign his position?
A. As a general rule in regard to cases of mesira and informing, on question 1120 regarding whistle-blowing and reporting violations committed by others, we wrote: “The answer may be complicated because of the many conflicting factors that could be involved. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that when the law requires that the respective authorities be informed, it is a Torah obligation to comply, especially when the welfare and safety of children or abused spouses is at risk, or when other defenseless victims are placed on harm’s way.”
In our particular case, Igrois Moshe (C.M. 92) debates whether one can accept work as an accountant for the IRS, as he may eventually find someone who is committing crimes of tax evasion and may have to report it to the agency for prosecution. Thus, he may make the perpetrator liable to punishments that surpass and are more severe than those the Torah would ordain.
Horav M. Feinstein zt’l adds that in reality, his work is likely redundant, since if he does not take the position someone else will, and in reality the tax evader probably will not suffer any more, if he takes office or not. Therefore, if there is no additional damage done by him accepting the job, there should be no injunction involved.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that this same argument may apply in our case, permitting the accountant to continue his job at Homeland Security. However, the Rov recommends that due to the complex and intricate nature of this question a competent Rabbi familiar with the case should be consulted.
One could add, that the good done by saving the lives of potential terrorism victims, may vastly surpass other far fetched considerations, that may never pan out and may be anyway handled by others.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a