Reb Eliezer: I had a rebbe once in the 8th Grade who gave a very lucid explanation about Jews being like the “stars in heaven” and the “sand of the Earth”. When the Jewish people are fulfilling their mission of being the light unto the nations and glorifying the name of Hashem, we are like the stars of the heavens – bright, beautiful, graceful in our movements and most importantly, close to Hashem and out of the reach of enemies. But when we commit aveiros and make Chilulei Hashem, then we become like the sands of the Earth – worthless, drab, plain, drifting endlessly and aimlessly with the wind and, most importantly, at the lowest point on Earth and susceptible to being walked on by even the lowest animals and insects. We can be scooped up, pushed around, thrown from place to place without anyone caring.
I heard this explanation 43 years ago, and I have never forgotten it. Unfortunately, the Rebbe who stated it passed away young, at age 65, about 30 years ago.