The Talmud Shavuos 39a relates that when Hashem said the words of Lo sisa…,“You shall not take the Name of Hashem, your G-d, in vain,” the entire world shook. We wonder why this particular commandment had such a frightening effect on people, more so than Lo signov, “Do not steal,” Lo sirtzach, “Do not murder,” or any of the other commandments for that matter. The Kotzker Rebbe, zl, explains that, regrettably, some people convince themselves and others that under certain circumstances, for the “greater good,” one can find a dispensation to steal – even to murder! It is all done in the name of Heaven: “I am acting l’shem Shomayim, for the sake of Heaven,” seems to be the clarion call lately. In the name of Heaven – for the sake of Hashem – one finds ways to circumvent Halachah, to skirt the law, to make the reprehensible a mitzvah. After all, he is doing it for G-d’s sake!
The pasuk admonishes us not to use Hashem’s Name for personal advantage. The Holy Name is sacred and is to be treated in such a manner. No wonder the entire world shook with fright when Hashem said, Lo sissa. No longer would we have dispensations with which to skirt the law.
A similar interpretation is quoted by the Chidushei HaRim. Horav Ezriel Hildesheimer, zl, Rav of Berlin, had occasion to be in Warsaw. While he was in Warsaw, he decided to visit the Chidushei HaRim. Their conversation revolved around Torah and Torah-related topics. Rav Hildesheimer began the conversation with a question. He quoted the pasuk in our Parshah, “The entire people saw the sounds/thunder, and the flames” (Ibid. 20:15). The Torah is describing the supernatural perception which the Jewish People experienced at Har Sinai. What was the necessity of such a miracle? Was it not enough that they had heard Hashem? Did they have to “see” the words which had been uttered? The Chidushei HaRim gave a practical, but brilliant, response. In the Hebrew language, a number of words sound alike, but have totally different meanings. For instance, the word lo with an aleph means do not, while lo with a vav means to/for him. Imagine, Hashem said Lo signov, “Do not steal,” but a person who hears what he wants to hear, can possibly infer that for Him (lo, with a vav) – for Hashem – one may steal! For Him – one may murder! Thus, it was necessary for the people to see the true meaning of the words clearly. Make no mistake: murder and theft are never permitted – even in the Name of G-d.
