Daily Mitzvot

Do not do anything which can result in a desecration of the Divine Name

 

 ‘Do not profane My holy name” Vayikra 22;32

 

This sin is divided into 3 sections

 

1. When anyone is coerced that he should violate one of the commandments of God during a troubled time of religious persecution where the one compelling him is intent on making him change his faith- whether it involves a minor Mitzvah or a severe Mitzvah.

 

When he is ordered to violate the prohibition against-  idol-worship, forbidden sexual relations or murder- even if in private and not during a time of religious persecution and the one compelling him is doing this for his own enjoyment – nevertheless he is obligated to give up his life rather than sin.

 

If he committed the sin and was not put death, he desecrated the Divine Name and violates this prohibition. 

 

If there were 10 Jewish men present, he would desecrate the Divine Name publically and his sin is enormous.

 

2. When a person sins without any enjoyment or craving but acts out of spite to rebel and remove the yoke of the Kingship of Heaven, he desecrates the Divine Name.

 

3. If a distinguished man does some action that appears in the eyes of common people as sinful, even if the action is permissible he desecrates the Divine Name.

 

The sin of desecrating the Divine Name is so severe that neither repentance nor Yom Kippur has the power to atone for it and the leave the matter is abeyance until death atones for this.

 

This applies in all places at all times for men and women.