Big Idea #3: Have a "Shem Tov" and Do Good

(א) ט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב

(1) A good name is better than precious oil; .

Vayikra Rabbah

The Midrash in Vaikra Rabbah relates that the Jews were redeemed from Egypt in the merit of four virtues. The first merit mentioned is that they didn’t change their names. This begs the question of what is so special about a Jewish name and why was it so important that the Jews did not change their names?

(יג)... רבי שמעון אומר, שלשה כתרים הם, כתר תורה וכתר כהנה וכתר מלכות, וכתר שם טוב עולה על גביהן.

(13)...Rabbi Shimon says: There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood and the crown of monarchy - but the crown of a good name outweighs them all.

(טו) ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃

(15) Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

(ב) שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק הָיָה מִשְּׁיָרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים:

Can you translate these verses yourself?