Desecration of the Name ( khillul ha-shem,) meaning desecration of the names of God in Judaism

Names of God in Judaism

In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title; it represents the Jewish conception of the divine nature, and of the relationship of God to the Jewish people and to the world. To demonstrate the sacredness of the names of God, and as a means of showing respect and reverence for...

, is a term used in Judaism

Judaism

Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

 particularly for any act or behavior that casts shame or brings disrepute to belief in God

Monotheism

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one and only one god. Monotheism is characteristic of the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Samaritanism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.While they profess the existence of only one deity, monotheistic religions may still...

, any aspect of the Torah

Torah

Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...

's teachings, Jewish law

Halakha

Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...

, or the Jewish community.

Hebrew Bible

The source for this commandment is to be found in the Book of Leviticus: "And you shall not profane My holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord who hallows you" - the Biblical term meaning to bring dishonour or shame to God's name by an action or lack thereof.

In Judaism

Any behavior or action that disgraces, harms or shames God and his Law is regarded as "desecration of God's name." The opposite concept, sanctification of God's name (Hebrew kiddush Hashem

Kiddush Hashem

The sanctification of the Name The sanctification of the Name The sanctification of the Name (in Hebrew kiddush Hashem is a precept of Judaism. It includes sanctification of the name by being holy.-Hebrew Bible:...

) means any action that brings honor, respect, and glory to God. It is often used to mean religious martyrdom. The obligation to refrain from desecration of the Name one of the 613 commandments in rabbinical enumeration.