Emor: Sanctification

 בס"ד

1st May 2021 / 19th Nissan 5781

In memory of my dear mother, Imi Morati Bryna Rouge bat Reb Yechiel a’h


Leviticus 22:

(31) You shall faithfully observe My commandments: I am the LORD.  (32) You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people—I the LORD who sanctify you, (33) I who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God, I the LORD.

 

ויקרא כ״ב:ל״א-ל״ג

(לא) וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ מִצְוֺתַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם אֲנִ֖י ה'׃ (לב) וְלֹ֤א תְחַלְּלוּ֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֔י וְנִ֨קְדַּשְׁתִּ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲנִ֥י ה' מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃ (לג) הַמּוֹצִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹקִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י ה'׃

 

Gd's instruction that His name should not be profaned, otherwise known as the mitzvah to avoid a 'chillul Hashem' is anything but trivial.  However, there is an interesting discussion amongst Chazal regarding whom he is addressing with the word ‘you’.

 

The Ibn Ezra (d.1167) famously notes that:

This is directed to the sons of Aaron, for this section Verses 26-33.  is connected to what is earlier stated.  To verse 18 which is directed to Aaron, to his sons, and to all of Israel.  In other words, verses 26-33 are directed to the sons of Aaron. 

Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 22:32:1

His view is agreed upon by a number of other commentators.  However, if that were indeed the case, it would absolve the rest of the people from having to obey this law!

The Rambam (d.1204) disagrees and states:

(1) It is mandatory upon the whole house of Israel to sanctify this Great Name, for it is said: "And I shall be sanctified among the children of Israel" (Lev.  22.32).  They are also charged not to blaspheme Him, for it is said: "And ye shall not profane My holy Name" (Ibid.).

Mishneh Torah, Foundations of the Torah 5:1

So, we have a dichotomy between two giants of Torah who are trying to decipher the meaning of this verse.  Is it aimed at a select group of people or the general population?  If the former, then, we mere Israelites are 'off the hook' as it were if we accidentally cause a Chillul Hashem.  If the latter, then everybody is liable.

More to the point, what are the consequences that occur as a result of such a desecration?

It's really quite simple.  When we think of the members of our faith who publicly bring our nation into disrepute (I shall not mention any names, but you could probably guess whom I am referring to) and as a result cause people to question our ethics and behaviour as Jews, we are suffering the fallout of a Chillul Hashem.  To our critics, it is immaterial whether the person who was responsible was a Kohen or not, an Orthodox or Secular Jew, a Sephardi or Ashkenazi.  As far as they are concerned, this person was 'one of ours' and they will always be identified as such.

I would venture to add that Gd's instruction, whichever way it was meant to be interpreted, gave a clear and immutable message.  "When you (whomever 'you' happen to be') desecrate My name and in the process, do not sanctify it, you forget your position as the nation that I, your Gd elevated you to.  I took you out of Egypt to make you into a nation that would act as a reflection of My role in the world."

You, the Kohanim or you, the entire population have a duty to sanctify me through your actions and behaviour and your dealings with the world at large, both in a personal capacity as well as professionally.

When I think of someone who was an example of demonstrating how to behave, my late mother immediately comes to mind.  She lit up every room she walked into and befriended people from all nations.  In terms of demonstrating how to behave and act in a manner that promoted a Kiddush Hashem, my mother was the example.

That she has left us so suddenly is still incomprehensible to me as well as many, many other people.  Yet, through her actions, her love of people and her love of her own religion, we, the ones she left behind have been forever enriched.  It is therefore comforting to know that when we read the above verses, we can say that far from desecrating Gd's name, she did everything in her power to illuminate it far and wide. 

May her memory be a blessing to you, whoever you are. 

Shabbat Shalom.



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