The two commands are respectively the prohibition against desecrating Godโs name, Chillul Hashem, and the positive corollary, Kiddush Hashem, that we are commanded to sanctify Godโs name. But in what sense can we sanctify or desecrate Godโs name?
The heter mechira came about in the first shmitta year, 5649 (1888), after thousands of years in exile. Some opposing poskim changed their positions when they saw how urgent the situation was. Anti-Zionism caused more opposition.
The mitzvah of Bris Milah has been enhanced by many beautiful customs. We will explain the background of these minhagim in the course of a guide to the honors bestowed during a bris and the steps of a bris procedure.
What drove the Romans against the Jews was the Jews' โdangerous cultureโ - a culture which had begun to penetrate the Roman Empire. Judaism was educating the masses to behave according to the principle that says โman is created in God's image.โ