Powtórzonego Prawa 4:6 Halacha: Gray Matter III

In a number of places, the Torah presents us with the mission of serving as a role model for other nations.¹⁴See Shemot 19:6, Seforno’s comments ad. loc., and Devarim 4:6. Indeed, part of every Jew’s role is to emulate the kiddush Hashem created by Avraham Avinu, who is referred to by his Hittite neighbors as “a prince of God amongst us” (Bereishit 23:6). Chazal regard a chillul Hashem as such a major infraction (see, for example, Yoma 86a) because setting a positive example for others is at the core of the mission of the Jewish people.

Accordingly, the sight of an observant Jew smoking in our time constitutes a chillul Hashem, and it certainly does not create the impression of “a knowledgable and wise nation” (Devarim 4:6).