„When faith is understood in a corrupted, small, and dark form, it cau…”

Sometimes the great enemy of faith is precisely the people who bear its name in vain. Those whose faith is childish or baseless, and who as 'representatives of faith' in the world cause it to be scorned; and likewise those who, in the name of faith, are capable of performing terrible and dreadful deeds, as if for the sake of the Torah and for the sake of God. This is the meaning of 'desecration of God's name,' which is usually done precisely by people who are expected to be positive representatives of bearing God's name in the world. And through the disqualified behavior, evil raises its head, and heresy gains strength to corrupt. We must be very careful not to mix inner desires, or needs of any kind, with the great truth that is in faith and Torah.

We must remember that we also constitute a symbol and a sign. This is like a king's son who walks about the streets—if he behaves properly, everyone says, 'See how well-mannered the king's son is, how pleasant his deeds, how good his upbringing and his home,' and the praise goes to the king. But if he behaves improperly, some will say, 'See how evil are the deeds of the king's son—perhaps he learned them in the king's house?'...

***

To receive a daily message on a quiet WhatsApp group:

For the recovery of Yitzchak HaCohen ben Zohara.