LEV901 It is a positive commandment to sanctify Hashem openly as Scripture states, and I will be hallowed among the children of Israel [this verse]. This we must do by submitting our life to death [if necessary], and with all our might, to make His faith widely known (be His name blessed). Thus if others wish to compel someone to turn away from our faith, he should not want at all to listen, but should submit his life to execution on account of this. Neither should he mislead the one compelling him, to make him think that he has turned heretic, although in his heart he believes in Him (blessed be His name) -- so that he should not give the one forcing him to transgress, any grounds to think that he has denied the blessed God. If the one applying the force means to make him change his faith and it is in public, which means before ten Jews, then even over any transgressions, and even if it is not at a time of religious persecution, he has to be killed sooner than transgress. If it is a time of religious persecution, Heaven forbid, and even in private he has to accept death sooner than transgress. If, however, idol-worship, consanguineous sexual relations or adultery, or bloodshed is involved [as the act he is forced to commit], then even if it is private and not at the time of religious persecution, and even if the one forcing him is intent only on his own pleasure and not on making him give up his faith, he is to accept death sooner than transgress. And if it is in public, he thus sanctifies the Divine name openly, and there is no deed higher than that. If someone transgresses this and does not sanctify the Divine name in a situation where he is duty-bound to hallow it, he has disobeyed a positive commandment and transgressed a negative one--not to desecrate the Divine name of Heaven, as Scripture states, And you shall not profane My holy name (Va-yikra 22:32).
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