Did you ever wonder what you responsibility is as a Jew?
Our Sages answer that question based on a verse from this week’s Torah portion. The ArtScroll commentary on Parshat Emor says “it is the primary privilege and responsibility of every Jew, great or small, to sanctify Gd’s name through his behavior, whether among Jews or gentiles - by studying Torah, and performing the commandments, and by treating others kindly, considerately and honestly, so that people say of him, ‘fortunate are the parents and teachers who raised such a person’”.
The verse that is the source is teaching the commandment that one is to give up one’s life to sanctify Gd’s name. But we are also taught that one can sanctify Gd’s name by living in a proper way, while traversing the daily walkways of life.
There is a story I share annually in conjunction with this week’s Parsha because it is so inspiring.
It’s a true story and I am privileged to know the protagonists.
They are the Muroff family and they lived in Atlanta for a few years.
Once they purchased a used desk through Craig’s List. In order to get the large desk through the door of their home, Rabbi Muroff had to dismantle it. Upon doing so he was shocked to discover an envelope containing $98,000 in cash. The woman who sold him the desk had no idea it was there, and no one would have been the wiser if he pocketed the money. But the Muroffs decided to return the money. Bringing their children along for the ride, the Muroffs returned the money to a very grateful and shocked woman. The money had been an inheritance from her father and she had stashed it in the desk, but somehow it had gotten wedged in between the drawers and she had no idea of its whereabouts.
This was what the women wrote to the rabbi after he returned the money:
“ I do not think there are too many people in this world that would have done what you did by calling me. I do like to believe that there are still good people left in this crazy world we live in. You certainly are one of them," the woman wrote. "I cannot thank you enough for your honesty and integrity."
That’s called making a Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying Gd’s name.

Just two days ago a horrifying terror attack took place in Israel.
A woman by the name of Tzila Gez was in labor and she and her husband were driving to the hospital for the delivery. Along the way they were attacked by a terrorist who shot at them. Tzila was killed, her husband injured as was her unborn baby. The baby was delivered by Cesarean section and is in serious condition.
It seems Tzila was an amazing person. A wonderful wife and mother and a therapist who helped thousands of people. A person who brought so much life and love into the world, whose bright light was snuffed out in a moment.
The following is
a message from Tzila’s husband who survived the attack:
Hello friends,
Today is a sad day.
Last night, my wife was murdered.
We were on our way to the hospital, joyfully, to give birth to our fourth son.
Of course I am shattered-that's natural-but I also thank God that l am alive, and I will be strong so I can continue to be a light to the entire world.
Because we will never let them break us.
I am very, very sad, but I will keep fighting for the wellbeing of our people. I love you all. We will survive, we will succeed, and we will thrive.”
That is called a Kiddush Hashem, sanctifying Gd’s name.
What about us?
If this commandment is the “ primary privilege and responsibility of every Jew”
How do we do it?
We actually are presented with many opportunities each and every day.
If we take the time and greet our cashier as we go through the checkout line, we can sanctify Gds name.
If we act honestly in our daily interactions, we can sanctify Gd’s name.
Being kind, respectful, charitable, empathetic, truthful…all opportunities gifted to us for the purpose of making a Kiddush Hashem.
Each opportunity provides a choice - a chance to do the right thing and lift those around us.
And there is often that audience, our children, who are the sponges that soak up our actions and retain them for posterity.
Imagine the child who answers the phone for a parent and is told by same parent who is watching TV to say they can’t come to the phone because they are busy.
The child retains the message that it is ok not to tell the truth if it’s not convenient.
But when we exercise the privilege of doing the right thing, the ramifications are eternal.
A friend of mine loved shopping at Syms, a store where a good consumer was the best customer. They had a unique markdown system where an item would be reduced after being on the selling floor. These regular markdowns sometime led to confusion as they were done in pen and the ticket might become hard to read.
My friend found a pair of books marked down to $79. She debated. Money was tight but she really liked the boots.
As a good consumer how could she pass up the bargain. So despite some misgivings over the price, she headed to the cashier. Imagine her delight when the cashier rang up the boots at $39.
(This is a really old story, everything was done manually,)
For a moment she deliberated.
She was tempted.
But she overcame and said to the cashier that she thought the ticket actually read $79. He checked the boots again and corrected his mistake.
But his words to her were worth every penny, the man, wearing the turban of a Hindu, said to my friend
“Your Gd loves you”.
My friend was happy she had done the right thing, but when she looked down at the glowing face of her daughter who watched with pride, she knew she had modeled the lesson of living life answering to a Higher Power.
That’s a Kiddush Hashem!
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!