Neither shall you profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Yisra᾽el: I am the Lord who make you holy (Vayikra 22:32)

The Torah tells us that one is obligated to give up his life for “Kiddush Hashem”. When the Torah expresses this idea, it concludes by saying, “…I am Hashem who sanctifies you.” (22:32). Though this concept is true, what is its relevance vis-à-vis the mitzvah of “Kiddush Hashem”?

The Baalei Musar tell us that it is easier for a person to have an adrenalin flow and temporarily reach unbelievable spiritual heights, than to maintain a continuous high spiritual level, which requires a constant herculean effort. This is similar to one explanation given for the mitzva of counting the omer: We reached great spiritual heights on Pesach night, but to keep this high level and make it “our own”, we have to work step by step for all 49 days. However, when something becomes an integral part of us, often it is no longer valued as highly, and we appreciate it less. To keep up our interest in that thing, we must continuously stimulate ourselves to appreciate its importance.

The Beis Halevi (Parshas Vayeira) tells us the reason that we call the Akeida by the name “Akeidas Yitzchak” and not ”Akeidas Avraham” is because Yitzchak’s test to die for “Kiddush Hashem” was passed down to us – we all have it in our “genes”. However, while Avraham reached a much greater spiritual level – being able to accept the situation of killing his son for “Kiddush Hashem” – this was not bequeathed to us as his heirs.

In short, to live a life of “Kiddush Hashem” is much harder than dying for “Kiddush Hashem”, for dying for “Kiddush Hashem” is just a momentary effort. (This was passed down to us as well.)

If, putting aside the level of difficulty, one were to ponder what Hashem prefers: That we die for “Kiddush Hashem” or that we live for “Kiddush Hashem”? Rav Moshe Bick tells us that this is the key to understanding the end of the verse. The verse is not referring to one who dies for “Kiddush Hashem”, rather one who lives a daily life of “Kiddush Hashem”. A person who dies for “Kiddush Hashem” forever remains at whatever level he has achieved, as there is no possibility of growth in death. However, someone who lives for “Kiddush Hashem” continuously grows and becomes a greater individual with each passing moment of his life. We look for Hashem to add to our kiddushah through all the good actions that we do. This is why we say in the brochos before doing a mitzvah, “…asher kiddishanu bemitzvosav vitzivanu…”, meaning that we become holier and holier via each mitzva that we do. Through these higher levels of holiness, we sanctify His name more and more.

This week we celebrated the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. We do not celebrate his death because of the significance of how he died, rather we celebrate it as a vehicle to spur us on to a greater life of “Kiddush Hashem”.

May we merit to live a life that inspires ourselves and others to continuously grow. While it may not be as spectacular as one who gives up his life, since it is fulfilling the ultimate desire of Hashem, it is the greatest sanctification of His name.