Dear Friends,
“You shall be Holy…” the Torah declares in this week’s Torah portion. (Lev. 19:1)
But, how?
It likely is one of the most difficult questions in all of Torah. How are we to act or demonstrate being holy? What does that mean?
Some might suggest that being holy requires acting pietistical – acting like a holy man of an Eastern sect, acting ascetically or practicing self-denial.
Others might suggest that being holy requires generosity and magnanimity and behaving with self-effacing humility, like holy men of some of our neighboring Christian communities.
Still others might proffer that being holy demands that one follow the Mitzvot unfailingly and devotedly, doing as many as one might be able, as perhaps some in our neighboring Jewish enclaves might espouse.
And then, there is the description offered directly in our Torah portion, this week… It offers a very specific description of the behavior expected in order to be holy:
“You shall not steal; you shall not deal deceitfully or falsely with one another; you shall not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God…You shall not defraud your fellow. The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning. You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind… You shall not render an unfair decision; do not favor the poor or show deference to the rich; judge your kin fairly. Do not deal basely with members of your people. Do not profit by the blood of your fellow… You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart… You shall not take vengeance or bear of grudge… Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:11-18)
Clearly, the instructions for being holy are not lofty or demanding of one to be a seemingly thoroughly “religious” person. Rather, the instructions are how to live with one another in a civil society; they address stealing, honest business practices, common decency.
Apparently, holiness is not about being other-worldly, but it is about being this-worldly. It demands that we be proper with one another. Holiness is not difficult, it is not exceptional behavior. Rather, it is correct behavior.
Thus, the answer to the question – How to be holy – is far simpler than we might have thought. We all readily can be holy… it is not exceptional, but proper!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
“You shall be Holy…” the Torah declares in this week’s Torah portion. (Lev. 19:1)
But, how?
It likely is one of the most difficult questions in all of Torah. How are we to act or demonstrate being holy? What does that mean?
Some might suggest that being holy requires acting pietistical – acting like a holy man of an Eastern sect, acting ascetically or practicing self-denial.
Others might suggest that being holy requires generosity and magnanimity and behaving with self-effacing humility, like holy men of some of our neighboring Christian communities.
Still others might proffer that being holy demands that one follow the Mitzvot unfailingly and devotedly, doing as many as one might be able, as perhaps some in our neighboring Jewish enclaves might espouse.
And then, there is the description offered directly in our Torah portion, this week… It offers a very specific description of the behavior expected in order to be holy:
“You shall not steal; you shall not deal deceitfully or falsely with one another; you shall not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God…You shall not defraud your fellow. The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning. You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind… You shall not render an unfair decision; do not favor the poor or show deference to the rich; judge your kin fairly. Do not deal basely with members of your people. Do not profit by the blood of your fellow… You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart… You shall not take vengeance or bear of grudge… Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:11-18)
Clearly, the instructions for being holy are not lofty or demanding of one to be a seemingly thoroughly “religious” person. Rather, the instructions are how to live with one another in a civil society; they address stealing, honest business practices, common decency.
Apparently, holiness is not about being other-worldly, but it is about being this-worldly. It demands that we be proper with one another. Holiness is not difficult, it is not exceptional behavior. Rather, it is correct behavior.
Thus, the answer to the question – How to be holy – is far simpler than we might have thought. We all readily can be holy… it is not exceptional, but proper!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
