Parashat Kedoshim: Behaving in a Holy Manner

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Mantell

SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Kedoshim, sums up an all-encompassing responsibility we have: “Kedoshim tihyu, ki kadosh ani Hashem Elokeichem,translated as, “Be holy, for I, Hashem your Lord am holy.”

Rashi tells us that most of the Torah depends on this parasha. Is that why it’s in the middle of the entire scroll? The commands of how to behave with holiness, ethically, legally, and ritually, are central to this week’s reading.

When we sanctify time and space, when we elevate the physical aspects of our lives to be in line with the spiritual facets of our lives, when we observe mitzvot, when we separate ourselves from behaviors antithetical to Judaic values, as Rashi and the Ramban inform us to do, we follow the central point of Kedoshim.

How can we ordinary people become holy? This is a question that the Admor Menachem Mendel of Kotsk asks and answers. He said that since the verse above was shared with all Klal Yisrael, the hint to our becoming holy, is to fully align with, completely identify with and belong to the holy nation of Israel. Beware of the opposite…the more one distances her/himself from Klal Yisrael, the weaker one’s holiness. Holiness is not just about what we do or don’t do, but also about our character, according to Nachmanides. To behave in a holy manner is to undergo an extended process in character formation and moral growth, immersing oneself in a Mussar program of sorts. “Kedoshim tihiyu,” you shall be holy. This passage was said to the entire Jewish nation because every single Jew, no matter their past or present situation, can achieve greatness. This wasn’t spoke only to rabbis. No, Hashem spoke to all of us. He tells us all that we can be, and are directed to be, extraordinary Jews.

Every age brings challenges to living with holiness, and today, with distasteful musical lyrics blasting, movies and television aggrandizing offensive behaviors, leaders demonstrating the lowest forms of behavior, fashion eroding tzni’us, materialism seen throughout our culture, it’s especially difficult to live a life of holiness.  We must view ourselves as uniquely children of Hashem, as fostering self-control to act with refinement, self-respect, and dignity. This means reigning in our pleasures and excesses, to create more self-discipline, and to use our desires only in the service of that which is holy. When it comes to spiritual matters, we have not limits placed on us. We can all become Torah giants and grow in our holiness and spirituality. The Talmud in Berachot 50a tells us, “One should make requests of Hashem humbly as a poor man begging at the door (Rashi). But doesn’t the Pasuk say, “[I am Hashem your G-d who took you out of Egypt;] open your mouth wide and I will fill it”? (Tehillim 81:11) That refers to Torah study.”

During this period of Sefirat Ha’Omer, leading to Shavuot and Matan

Torah, we are gathering the days together in a sense. This connection, this ingathering, standing together as one, is what made it possible for us to receive the Torah. One can learn from this the benefit, perhaps the necessity, of being scrupulous in our relationships with each other, leaving negative gossip, comparison, jealousy, holier-than-thou attitudes, far from us.

Ahavat Yisrael is the medicine that we need now as we make our way to Shavuot. Just as we do not want to leave anyone out, indeed if we do, we cannot receive the Torah. We cannot leave out any of the currently applicable 248 positive mitzvot. Of course, we recognize, thanks to Rav Simcha Bunem who noted that there are many mitzvot, and we cannot individually keep all the mitzvot. He said, “Reuven can keep some mitzvot which others cannot keep. Shimon can keep yet others, while Levi yet others. So, together, Israel would keep all the many mitzvot.”

What we do know is that the mitzvot we perform are best done with Ahavat Yisrael. When we pray, we best share our prayers with all of Israel. Rav Eliahu Dessler in his famed Michatav Eliahu, teaches that it isn’t that we give to those we love, but we love those to whom we give. He clarifies, “…in giving of ourselves to others, by investing ourselves in the lives of our fellow man, a part of us remains with that person and our love for them grows.” This klal gadol, this all-encompassing principle, applies to all mitzvot, and perhaps notably to one of the most well-known that we find in this week’s reading, “You shall love your fellow as yourself.” Let’s use our internal compass, that which was created for us in the image of Hashem, to guide us in performing mitzvot to be pleasing to Him.

It clearly begins with us. We say in Psalm 33, רַֽנְּנ֣וּ צַ֖דִּיקִים, “Behold the eye of the Lord is to those who fear Him, to those who hope for His kindness to rescue their soul from death and to sustain them in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart will rejoice in Him because we hoped in His holy name. May Your kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we hoped for You.”

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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com