Torat Imecha - 5/1/20

This week we read two parshiot, Acharai Mot and Kedoshim. Parshat Kedoshim begins with the words:

קדושים תהיו כי קדוש אני ה' אלקיכם

You shall be sanctified because I, Hashem your G-d, am sanctified.

The end of the parsha expresses this concept as well:

וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים, כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי ה'; וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן-הָעַמִּים, לִהְיוֹת לִי

And you will be sanctified unto me, because I, Hashem am sanctified. I separated you from among the nations, to be mine.

How do we make sense of the seemingly random laws between these bookends? The Ibn Ezra explains that the parsha is really an elaboration of the mitzvot that emerge from the Ten Commandments. First and foremost, we must recognize Hashem as Creator and we are warned (yet again) not to worship idols; we must offer sacrifices only to Hashem. The parsha enjoins us to observe Shabbat and to treat our parents reverentially. Both of these laws are designed to emphasize the concept of creation. It follows that we are obligated to give tzedaka from our produce for the honor of the Master of the Universe. Stealing constitutes a violation of this honor. If one does steal, he must not add insult to injury by swearing falsely in His name and, of course, to steal another’s wife is a gross violation.

A Jew may not gossip or speak badly about a fellow Jew; neither should one stand by when a friend is dying or is in trouble. Lashon Hara leads to the destruction of lives; jealousy and revenge are sublimated expressions of the same aggression. Rather, the Torah encourages us,” ואהבת לרעך כמוך,” because we are all relatives in the nation that Hashem has designated as kadosh.

Mitzvos such as the prohibition of tattoos, sorcery, and imitating the rituals of the other nations are violations of the kedusha that distinguishes us and endows us with some likeness to the sanctity of our Creator. We must treat everyone within the nation according to His justice, including the converts and aged, both of whom are extremely vulnerable..

The Torah concludes with וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים, כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי ה'; וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן-הָעַמִּים, לִהְיוֹת לִי, but it adds one caveat. We make sure that the nation is free from sorcerers, necromancers and the like, because we are responsible to uphold the kedusha of the nation.

Separateness, sanctity, harmony and mutual responsibility…The Ten Commandments and, by extension, the entire Torah is encapsulated in the theme of Kedusha. During these trying times, I wish you the the serenity of a true שבת קדש, a day to reflect on our Creator and the life of kedusha that He has bequeathed to us.