This pasuk, although directed to the Kohanim, refers to all of Klal Yisrael. We are enjoined to actively reflect the sanctification of Hashem’s Name in our daily endeavor. We must be scrupulous in our moral conduct, so that no action of ours tarnishes the honor of Judaism. Every action which we perform must be scrutinized, for we are entrusted with the mandate of glorifying Hashem’s Name. This mandate demands that we live in such a way that our life-style contributes to the glory of Hashem.
It is noteworthy that the Torah clearly designates the focus of this sanctification – namely – among the Bnei Yisrael. Although it is our obligation to sanctify Hashem’s Name in the eyes of other nations, it is even more important to glorify Him among our own people. This concept is illustrated by the fact that Moshe, who exemplified the trait of glorifying Hashem’s Name through much of his life, ultimately failed to sanctify His Name among Bnei Yisrael. Thus, he lost the right to enter Eretz Yisroel. While it is important to give non-Jews every reason to respect Judaism, our essential focus must be on reinforcing our own people’s love and reverence for the Jewish faith.
