Dear Friends,
Centuries ago, the ancient sages liked to play riddles and games with the Torah. Among their playful exercises was to ask, “What is the most important or central verse or message of the Torah?”
They would offer many possible options: “Choose Life,” from near the end of Deuteronomy surely was one of their considerations. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” from this week’s portion was a good choice. Or, “I am the Eternal your God,” from the Ten Commandments, was another.
But, perhaps the very best was the opening verse to our section, today:
“You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:1)
Some could rightly argue that this command sums up the entire Torah and its obligations. Every other verse may teach us HOW to serve God, or might suggest a reason of WHY to serve God. But this verse seems to tell us both: How and Why to serve God. Our task is to be Holy – because we are to emulate God in God’s holiness.
And, this verse is compellingly simple and elegant. It gives us an unconditional command, and leaves it to us to decipher what is the means of being holy. Some have suggested that the rest of the Torah – from the examples of Abraham to the teachings of Moses – are designed to guide us to achieve this very holiness.
As well, this verse is incredibly ennobling: it trusts that we have the capacity and the will to be holy. God would not command us to be something which we cannot be. Thus, the verse sets an aspirational bar for us, setting it very high, but not too high. We are to measure our righteousness and holiness not merely against the best amongst us, but against how God would have us behave. It challenges us.
Thus, as we open the Torah this week to read the Holiness Code, found in chapter 19 of Leviticus, it is ok if we don’t get much past its opening verse. Everything else – keeping Shabbat, returning lost property, caring for the vulnerable, judging fairly and loving generously – are all means to fulfill this first, penultimate commandment.
“You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Centuries ago, the ancient sages liked to play riddles and games with the Torah. Among their playful exercises was to ask, “What is the most important or central verse or message of the Torah?”
They would offer many possible options: “Choose Life,” from near the end of Deuteronomy surely was one of their considerations. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” from this week’s portion was a good choice. Or, “I am the Eternal your God,” from the Ten Commandments, was another.
But, perhaps the very best was the opening verse to our section, today:
“You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:1)
Some could rightly argue that this command sums up the entire Torah and its obligations. Every other verse may teach us HOW to serve God, or might suggest a reason of WHY to serve God. But this verse seems to tell us both: How and Why to serve God. Our task is to be Holy – because we are to emulate God in God’s holiness.
And, this verse is compellingly simple and elegant. It gives us an unconditional command, and leaves it to us to decipher what is the means of being holy. Some have suggested that the rest of the Torah – from the examples of Abraham to the teachings of Moses – are designed to guide us to achieve this very holiness.
As well, this verse is incredibly ennobling: it trusts that we have the capacity and the will to be holy. God would not command us to be something which we cannot be. Thus, the verse sets an aspirational bar for us, setting it very high, but not too high. We are to measure our righteousness and holiness not merely against the best amongst us, but against how God would have us behave. It challenges us.
Thus, as we open the Torah this week to read the Holiness Code, found in chapter 19 of Leviticus, it is ok if we don’t get much past its opening verse. Everything else – keeping Shabbat, returning lost property, caring for the vulnerable, judging fairly and loving generously – are all means to fulfill this first, penultimate commandment.
“You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn