In this week’s Torah portion, today’s aliyah, Hashem threatens to destroy the Children of Israel after the tragedy of the Spies. To save the People, Moshe Rabbeinu immediately replies, “The nations who have heard of Your reputation will say as follows, Since God was unable to bring this nation to the land that He swore to them, He slaughtered them in the desert.” (Numbers 14:15-16)

As Jews, we are concerned about reputation, about what other people think of us.

The Ethics of the Fathers tells us, “Rabbi Shimon used to say: There are three crowns–the crown of the Torah, the crown of the priesthood, and the crown of kingship, but the crown of a good name surpasses them all.” It also tells us: “Rabbi Chanina the son of Dosa would say…. One who is pleasing to his........

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