The other day, my 14-year-old nephew Chaim (name changed) from Lakewood had an appointment with the dentist on the fast day of Shivah Asar B’Tammuz, and he was worried.
As the dental hygienist busied herself setting up the room, he turned to his mother and said, “Mommy, it’s a fast day today. Am I allowed to rinse my mouth after the dental treatment? What happens if I accidentally swallow some water? I don’t think I will rinse. I will manage.”
They discussed the issue for a couple of minutes before realizing that the dental hygienist was listening to their conversation. Suddenly, she began to cry. Tears were streaming down her face. “I’m so awed by your son’s sincerity and commitment to his religion,” she said. “His love for G-d and concern about the religious laws are amazing! If only every child his age could be so pure and sincere.”
In Shochen Ad, which is recited at the end of Pesukei Dezimrah on Shabbos and Yom Tov, we find the words “b’kerev kedoshim tiskadash – within the holy ones You will be sanctified.” The simplest way to understand these words is that Hashem will be sanctified among the people who are kadosh. Rav Shimon Schwab, however, explained the phrase to mean that Hashem is sanctified by the inner essence of those who are holy.
When a human being attains a status of kedushah, it represents a change within him, a core of righteousness that exists within his very being – and that is the key to creating kiddush Hashem.
— Living Kiddush Hashem
