Kiddush Hashem

Kiddush Hashem (Hebrew: קידוש השם‎; “sanctification of the name [of God]”) is a precept of Judaism as expressed in the Torah for any Jew: “To sanctify His Name” Leviticus 22:32, and conversely not to bring dishonor or shame to God’s name which is known as Chillul Hashem: “Not to profane His Name” Lev. 22:32.

Thus any action by a Jew that brings honor, respect, and glory to God is considered to be a Kiddush Hashem, whereas any behavior or action that disgraces, harms or shames God's name and his Torah is regarded as a Chillul Hashem which means a “desecration of the Name.”

The ultimate act of Kiddush Hashem is when a Jew is prepared to sacrifice his life rather than transgress any of God’s three cardinal sins: Serving idols (Avodah Zarah, that is foreign worship^[1]), committing certain sexual acts (such as incest or adultery), or committing murder.

Contents 1 Kedoshim 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Kedoshim

The Jews who were victims of the Spanish Inquisition who were either executed or exiled from Spain and Portugal because they did not renounce their religion and belief in God as taught by Judaism are called Kedoshim (“holy ones”) because they are regarded as having fulfilled the mitzvah (“commandment”) of not turning to idolatry and thereby performing a Kiddush Hashem.

Another way to be categorized Kedoshim, is if someone is killed for the simple reason of being Jewish, even if not given the opportunity to convert, or otherwise disassociate with the Jewish faith. Thus, the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust, only because they were Jews, are considered Kedoshim.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Martyrdom
• Self-sacrifice under Jewish Law

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Kaufmann Kohler. "ḲIDDUSH HA-SHEM". Jewish Encyclopedia. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=2092&letter=A#6426. 

v · d · eHalakha (Jewish religious law) Ethics Chillul Hashem · Geneivat da'at · Kiddush Hashem · Lashon hara · Lifnei iver · Noahide Law · Retzach Kashrut Hechsher · Kosher foods · Kashrut of animals · Kosher wine · Mashgiah · Milk and meat · Shatnez · Shechita Ritual purity Mikvah · Niddah · Ritual washing in Judaism Modesty Negiah · Yichud · Mechitza · Arayot · Gender separation Halakhic principles Aveira · Bemeizid · B'rov am hadrat melech · Chumra · D'Oraita and D'Rabbanan · Mitzvah goreret mitzvah · Ikar v'tafel · Neder · Osek b'mitzvah patur min hamitzvah · Pikuach nefesh · Positive time-bound mitzvot · Self-sacrifice in Jewish law · Shomea k'oneh · Toch k'dei dibur · Yad soledet bo Punishment Capital punishment · Kareth · Stoning Related boxes High Holidays · Passover · Shabbat · Sukkot

This Judaism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · d · e