Anyone who’s ever been in the public eye, or is close to someone who has been, knows the feeling of life in a fishbowl, where you’re always being seen and often misunderstood. Lately, I’ve realized this isn’t an experience that is exclusive to public figures. Rather, this is a Jewish experience. In a way, we’re all living in that fishbowl. People notice and observe ,then they draw conclusions—fair or not.1
That’s not a flaw in the system. It’s part of our mission.
In Parashas Emor, after detailing the responsibilities of the Kohanim, the Torah gives a language to this experience:
ושמרתם מצותי ועשיתם אתם… ולא תחללו את־שם קדשי ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל
"You shall observe My commandments and perform them… and you shall not profane My holy Name, but I shall be sanctified among the Children of Israel."2
The idea of kiddush Hashem and its opposite, chillul Hashem, serve as the foundation for the Jewish concept of martyrdom, as well as for the tefillos of Kaddish and Kedusha. Additionally, there is …
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Shui’s Newsletter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.