FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – EMOR:

“And you shall guard my commands and do them. I am YHWH. And do not profane my set-apart name, and I shall be set-apart among the children of Yisra’el. I am YHWH, who sets you apart, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am YHWH.”

A Chillul Hashem (Hebrew: חילול השם) is an act that violates the Torah prohibition of desecrating or profaning (chillul) the name (YHWH). A Chillul Hashem occurs when a person acts immorally in the presence of others. Since scripture states that His people are representatives of Him and His moral code, when one of them acts unlawfully or in a shameful manner, they have represented YHWH poorly, thus desecrating and profaning His name. A Chillul Hashem is the opposite of a Qiddush Hashem (the sanctification of YHWH’s name), which is an act that brings honor, respect, and glory to YHWH’s name. The concept of Chillul Hashem is prevalent throughout the TaNaK (Torah, Prophets, and Writings) and is often referenced by those who are Torah-observant as a reason to uphold the highest moral standard.

Think about this. Are you desecrating or profaning the name? What might you be doing that brings low the name of YHWH as a representative of His people?