Slightly related to the above, my ovi mori shlita was me’orah that there is a fascinating Teshuvah from R’ Moshe Sternbuch in Teshuvos V’Hanagos (1:368) where he discusses a case of a ba’al teshuva, who when visiting his parents who had a television would damage it in order that the family members would stop watching it. R’ Moshe discusses if doing so is permitted.
R’ Moshe starts off the Teshuvah by saying that it is definitely necessary to stop people watching television and that it is literally a psik reisha (a direct cause of sinning) for someone who lives in a house with a television which degrades those who watch it.
He then brings that there is a dispute between the Ketzos and the Nesivos (Choshen Mishpot 3) whether the ability to force someone to do keep a mitzvah is uniquely permitted to beis din or whether every single person is allowed to force others to keep mitzvos.
According to the Ketzos it is only permitted for beis din while the Nesivos says that every person has a mitzvah to prevent others from sinning.... Accordingly, the Nesivos would permit in our case to carry out whatever activity is needed to stop television watching. In contrast the Ketzos says that only beis din has the power to decide and therefore the individual can not act on his own initiative to harm another’s property.
R’ Moshe leans towards the opinion of the Ketzos that one must only act if he has permission from beis din. He also adds in an argument that doing such damage could cause one to be turned off from Yiddishkeit altogether, rather than making him more observant, so one must be careful.
R’ Moshe also stresses the importance of making sure to consult a rav in such a case. He brings that Yaakov Avinu did not approve when Rochel stole her father’s idols and she ended up dying from the curse. We see that sometimes a pious act causes much more spiritual harm than if no action were taken. And that instead of glorifying Hashem – the reverse happens as is known from many incidents.
R’ Moshe adds: It could also be that in this case it is not the appropriate time to stop them from watching television and an act that is premature can cause much harm. Thus, even if the act itself is permitted it might be at the wrong time. Therefore, the act can not be done in isolation of context and it is necessary to speak to a talmud chocham to find out what is appropriate and to follow his words. One who acts according to the rabbis will always merit success.
