Parshat Acharei-Mot Kedoshim
This week we read the double Torah portion of Acharei- Mot and Kedoshim. While there are many beautiful themes and teachings from these portions, one stands out in particular. The second portion is called Kedoshim-Holy Ones. The Torah describes in great detail the commandment given to us to be holy. This Mitzvah encapsulates the way we should behave; from our speech and behavior to our private and intimate marital life. We are enjoined to live holy, be holy, act holy and be a light unto the nations of the world.
I've often wondered why G-d felt the need to get so down and gritty with us in delineating every detail of how we should be holy. Why couldn't he just given us the general commandment and be done with it?
Perhaps the answer is, that it's really not that easy to be holy.
Regardless of religion, race or gender, we often stoop to the lowest behavior possible. Our animal soul often gets the better of us, and we behave in quite an unholy manner. We need help in this endeavor. We need tools and clear instructions to engage in this task. We need all the support we can. The Jewish people were given a special Mitzvah and directive to be a light unto the nations of the world. It is a tall order, but we are able to succeed. We need to follow the game plan and use the many tools and directives that G-d Almighty has provided us for this special task.
This week we observe the 8th Yahrtzeit of my dear grandmother Anna Barouk (Chana Tziona Bat Shlomo) of blessed memory. If one memory or lesson stood out of her beautiful ninety one years, it is that she refused to engage in negative talk about another person. She would often say to us in her native French, "If you have nothing good to say, then don't say it at all". Her ten children, and hundreds of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and descendants have merited to have a role model of what it means to be holy, to act holy. May her memory be a blessing.
We can be holy. We just need to try a little bit harder.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Y. Marrus
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