Taking Hashem’s name in vain is a serious offense that
becomes outright forbade in this week’s parsha, Mishpatim. The name of Hashem
cannot be used outside the context of blessings, prayers, or reading full
verses from the torah. The gemara (Shvuot 39a) discusses the violation of this
prohibition and its severity at length. Among the expressions of its severity
is the idea that the entire world shook when Hashem said not to take his name
and vain, and that the violation is one that is very hard to repent for. These
descriptions I’d more likely associate with the prohibition against murder,
idolatry, or adultery. Not to treat taking Hashem’s name in vain lightly, but
there seem to be worse things out there. Additionally, the combination of the
prayers and blessings that we’re supposed to make on an average day has us
saying Hashem’s name hundreds of times a day; a mistake is a near guarantee.
However, perhaps the frequency of using His name is not the reason to be
lenient rather the necessity to be stringent.
No
surprise, I’d like to look in Harry Potter to properly understand the
significance of the commandment. Firstly, The Death Eaters in the seventh book,
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, teach us a powerful lesson about
using names. They make Voldemort’s name taboo enabling them to locate anyone
who uses the name. They reason that anyone who has the nerve to use the Dark
Lord’s name has so little respect for him that it’s clear they would be cause
for Death Eater concern. They understood that the willingness to speak the name
of such a powerful being on such a casual level reflected the lack of honor
they had for him. When we refrain from using Hashem’s name, it reflects our
perspective of him.
Secondly,
simply hearing the name Voldemort had a surprisingly powerful impact on those
who were familiar with his power. Their fear of Voldemort is reflected in their
reaction to his name. I think the most powerful expression of this idea is in
the end of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Harry begins saying Voldemort, but he corrects himself to say You-Know-Who.
Dumbledore then gave him advice that’s effectively I can personally attest to
from life experience. “Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name
for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” In our case,
when reverence for the thing itself, Hashem, is an ideal strongly emphasized in
the torah, following this advice is exactly what we need. It’s not easy to have
reverence for someone we can’t see or feel. Knowing that we can do what we want
without immediate punishment slowly wares away the sensitivity we feel toward
Hashem. What’s the solution? Be careful about his name. Fear of a name
increases fear of the thing itself!
We see that the more Harry uses Voldemort’s
name, the more numb Hermione and even Ron, who group up flinching upon hearing
it, became. Eventually their relation to Voldemort become one of such little
respect that they were willing to defy him directly in front of his face. We
can’t allow that to happen. By being extra careful in situations where Hashem’s
name will be used, we can build a proper perspective on how to relate to the
thing itself. If Hashem’s name is approached with great caution and care, our
relation toward Hashem Himself should be all the more so. Because we say His
name literally hundreds of times a day, the commandment that prevents numbness
from encroaching on our relationship to Him and observance of His torah becomes
of dire importance.
