טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב, וְיוֹם הַמָּוֶת מִיּוֹם הִוָּלְדוֹ

ביטוי (אנגלית)

A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of birth/ better a fair name than the finest oil/ reputation is all in all

הגדרה (אנגלית)

A person's good name is more important than any material thing of monetary value. A person's good name at the time of death, as a result of the good deeds done during life, is more important than the name given to him at birth. A proverb emphasizing the importance of a good name and the good reputation a person earns.

("A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of birth" - Ecclesiastes 7:1, and also: "A good name is better than good oil"; how far does good oil go? From the inner room to the hall, while a good name goes from one end of the world to the other" - Shemot Rabbah, Moach, and also: "His holy name, the Baal Shem Tov, was derived from what is written, 'A good name is better than good oil,' because his name spread like good frankincense in all the upper worlds" - Shai Agnon / Tales of the Baal Shem Tov, What is the reason the Baal Shem Tov is called the Baal Shem Tov, and also: "She who was born in a remote village / and did not hear about heat and stifling closeness / the name Shamen Tov is not good from there" - David Kris in a modern translation by Ben-Ze'ev and the band "Tislam" / Radio Hazak)