Rabbi Michael Laitner
If you have comments please feel free to e-mail Rabbi Laitner at: michael@southhampstead.org

Parshat Acharei Mot - Kedoshim

‘Speak to the congregation of the Children of Israel and say to them, you shall be holy - because Holy, am I the L-d your G-d’ (Vayikra 19,2)

Holiness can appear an elusive quality. Rashi, on this verse, sees this imperative as commanding us to separate from sin, reminding us that the word ‘kadosh’ (holy) also has connotations of separateness. Rashi emphasises separation with particular regard to sexual sins, some of which are listed in the previous chapter. Separate from these, and you will find holiness. Holiness therefore appears to be a very practical matter, not something esoteric or ephemeral. If you want to find holiness, take practical steps to safeguard yourself from sinning. Perhaps the effort involved in doing so also makes you a better person, more spiritually tuned.

Ramban takes a different track. He views this injunction as a different kind of ethical imperative. A person could, for example, drink kosher wine and eat kosher meat all day long, without infringing any Mitzva. Yet, says Ramban, this is not what the Torah expects of us, in fact by engaging in such behaviour as drinking wine and eating meat all day long, a person could become a ‘naval birshut HaTorah’ - a debased person through things permitted by the Torah. Therefore, the commandment to be holy enjoins us not to abuse the luxuries which we have. Instead, we should become the kind of person that the Torah wishes us to be.

Earlier on, (Vayikra 11,44), the Torah tells us to sanctify ourselves so that we will be holy. How does this differ from what we have just discussed? There are a number of approaches in the commentaries. One of them, Keli Yakar, quoting the Gemara (Shabbat 104a) explains that this verse teaches that if somebody wishes to purify themselves, i.e. to come closer to G-d, G-d will help them with this. If you find this comparison interesting, have a look at the other commentaries there.