Subject: In Memory of Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin)
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
Date: 7/8/2016, 3:32 AM
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com>
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com

The Mishna in Avos (4;4) says "Anyone who desecrates G-d's Name in private will be punished publicly".

The desecration of G-ds Name is one of the gravest sins a person can commit because it is the antithesis of own existence. Man is in this world in order to increase the Honor of G-d and doing the exact opposite is therefore very severe.

Chazal ask what does it mean to desecrate the Name of G-d? The answer might surprise many, as it is totally subjective. They explain that a great person is held to a much higher standard in this regard than other people. Although this may seem unfair it is something we can all understand in a secular sense as well. If you would hear about a lawyer, judge or police officer engaged in some type of illegal or even unethical behavior the impact would be much greater than hearing about some regular person doing so. The reason is that we look to these people as the ones who uphold the law (and ethics) of our society. They should show exemplary behavior which is beyond the letter of the law. Lihavdil when it comes to great Rabbis and scholars who we view as upholders of the Torah and G-d's Word their actions are held up to much greater scrutiny and therefore they can result in a desecration of G-ds Name in situations where someone else committing the same action would not. This is something that we should all be aware of. Although we might not be a great Rabbi or Scholar nevertheless in work and social environments people most probably look at us at least as being "the Jew" or Jewish. Whether they will admit it or not they probably hold us to a higher ethical standard (and rightfully so). After all we are G-d's Chosen People and we are tasked to increase His Honor in this world. We may easily encounter situations where other people are behaving in a certain way which may be looked at as unethical and we should know that by proudly refraining from these acts because we are part of the Chosen People this prevents any desecration of G-ds Name and in fact causes a great sanctification of His Name instead.

May we all merit to continually sanctify the Name of G-d!

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath