There are numerous places in last week's double Parsha and in this week's Parsha, Emor, in which HaShem instructs us to sanctify His Name. In many of these places He gives the reason for this. Because He is the One Who sanctifies us. In other words, HaShem has given us sanctity, specifically His sanctity, and He expects us to maintain the purity of that sanctity. This is the mitzvah of Kiddush Hasheim.
If I were to purchase an exceedingly expensive sports car, my friend may caution me to keep it well polished and well maintained. This would be good advice, coming from a good friend and worth listening to. Compare this to my friend who is quite a wealthy fellow who offered me his own car to use as I wish, to park in my driveway and to show it off to my friends and neighbors. He made this offer because he cherishes our friendship and wants to demonstrate how close he feels towards me. When he makes the suggestion to take special care of the car, his words of caution carry a much deeper message than the first fellow. His words of caution are not merely a suggestion worth heeding, his suggestion are instructions that must be kept to insure the welfare of our friendship and the welfare of this most incredible gift.
HaShem shared with us from His Kedusha! We are carriers of His sanctity. When He requests from us that we guard His kedusha and maintain its integrity, it is much more than the concern for the kedusha itself!
The welfare of our life takes precedence over every mitzvah except for the three cardinal sins. This means that we are to desecrate any mitzvah even Shabbos and Yom Kippur in order to save the life of a Jew. However, when the desecration of any mitzvah or even a simple Jewish custom, involves a desecration of HaShem’s sanctity, then we must forfeit our lives before transgressing that mitzvah. Such an example would be if a tyrant would rise to power who wishes to denigrate the Jewish people and their Torah. When he decrees that no Jewish man may cover his head in public or face execution, we are obligated to keep our heads covered even at the cost of losing it!
The value of any object is determined by what people are willing to pay for it. The Torah teaches us the value of life is greater than the observance of a single Shabbos. Therefore when the conflict arises we choose life over one Shabbos. With the mitzvah of Kiddush HaSheim, its value is greater than the life of a Jew. So when the conflict arises we forfeit life to keep the mitzvah.
Behold! This mitzvah of Kiddush HaSheim is greater than life itself and we are able to accomplish it with every interaction we have. If my actions inspire someone to think 'How nice religious Jews are!’ or if people appreciate the gentleness, the integrity, the thoughtfulness of a Torah Jew, Kiddush HaSheim was accomplished. No matter what we are doing; driving, talking, buying, selling, asking directions, paying bills and so on, every one of these activities offer opportunities that are more valuable than life!
How fortunate we are to have been given this incredible gift which adds value to our every action that is greater than life itself!
