Parashat Emor -Say-17 May 2025 / 19 Iyyar 5785

Mr. Murthy Gaddi
May 15
4 min read

“From the Sanctuary to the Seasons: The Divine Order in Parashat Emor”

SANCTIFYING THE NAME: THE ETERNAL CALL OF KIDDUSH HASHEM IN PARASHAT EMOR

1. What Is Chilul Hashem? Desecrating God's Name

📘 Talmud – Yoma 86a:

“What is a Chilul Hashem? Rav said: If someone like me were to buy meat and not pay immediately, people would say, ‘Is this the Torah scholar?”

Chilul Hashem is not only blasphemy or idolatry. Even small acts of misconduct by a Jew — especially one known to be observant — profanes God’s reputation in the eyes of others.

📘 Rambam – Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 5:11:

“Any action which causes people to speak disparagingly of Jews and Torah — even if technically permitted — constitutes Chilul Hashem.”

Desecration occurs when our behavior causes others to say, “Is this how God's people act?”

✨ 2. Kiddush Hashem – Sanctifying God’s Name

The highest spiritual act a Jew can perform is Kiddush Hashem — even to the point of martyrdom when required.

📘 Sifra (Emor, Chapter 8):

“I shall be sanctified among the Children of Israel” — From here we learn that a Jew must be willing to die rather than publicly violate Torah in times of persecution.

But on a daily level, Kiddush Hashem means:

Living with honesty and kindness
Acting with humility and reverence
Representing Torah values with dignity

“You shall love Hashem your God…” (Deut. 6:5) — How does one cause others to love Him? By behaving uprightly so that people say, ‘Fortunate is the one who studied Torah!’” — Yoma 86a

🕎 3. Misuse of the Sacred Name – A Severe Sin

In Parashat Emor, the blasphemer is punished by death for pronouncing the Four-Letter Name (Y-H-V-H) with disrespect.

📘 Vayikra 24:16:

“Whoever blasphemes the Name of Hashem shall surely be put to death.”

📘 Rashi (on Genesis 4:26):

On “Az hukhal likro b’shem Hashem” — “Then began the profanation of the Name of Hashem.”

Rashi explains that people began to call God's Name in idolatrous or disrespectful contexts, initiating a legacy of spiritual distortion.

Even today, many misuse or mispronounce the Divine Name — turning it into something common, which the Torah forbids:

“Lo tisa et Shem Hashem Elokeicha laShav” – “You shall not carry (or pronounce) the Name of Hashem your God in vain.”(Exodus 20:7)

🔥 4. Desecrating God’s Name Among the Nations

The greatest Chilul Hashem is when Israel, God's people, act in such a way that the nations say:“These are Hashem’s people?!”

📘 Ezekiel 36:20–23:

“They profaned My holy Name, as it was said of them, ‘These are Hashem’s people, yet they were exiled from His land.’ Therefore, I will sanctify My great Name… and the nations will know that I am Hashem.”

This passage shows that exile itself is a desecration of Hashem’s Name — and that redemption is ultimately the act of Kiddush Hashem.

🌍 5. Kiddush Hashem Will Bring the Final Redemption

📘 Zohar – Vayikra 93a:

“When Israel sanctifies God's Name in this world — through speech, action, and suffering — the Name of the Holy One is elevated, and the redemption is drawn near.”

📘 Zechariah 14:9:

“On that day, Hashem will be One, and His Name One.”

This is the ultimate vision — a world where God’s Oneness is revealed, and no distortion or profanity remains.

📘 Chassidic Insight – Rebbe Nachman of Breslov:

“Even a small act done with love and sincerity, when done by a Jew in public, can sanctify God’s Name in all the worlds.”

🧩 Summary Table: Concepts of Hashem’s Name in the Sages’ Writings

Concept	Source	Insight
Chilul Hashem	Yoma 86a	Public behavior that causes disrespect for Torah or God
Kiddush Hashem	Rambam, Sifra	Sanctification through martyrdom or daily righteousness
Misuse of the Name	Rashi on Gen. 4:26	Using the sacred Name in vain or idolatrously
Among the nations	Ezekiel 36	Israel’s behavior shapes God’s reputation in the world
End-time Redemption	Zechariah 14	The final revelation is the full Kiddush Hashem

🕯️ Final Reflection:

“You are My witnesses, says Hashem, and My servant whom I have chosen.”(Isaiah 43:10)

Every soul of Israel carries within them a chelek Elokai mima’al — a divine spark. Every action, every word, every interaction in the world can either magnify or diminish the reputation of the Creator in this world.Let us sanctify Hashem's Name in our deeds, so that the world may one day fulfill:

“And the nations shall know that I am Hashem… when I am sanctified through you before their eyes.”(Ezekiel 36:23)

Emor: Declaring Holiness in Service, Time, and Speech

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