By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — Can you imagine what life would be like if it was built, truly built, on love? Hashem comes to teach us in this week’s double Torah reading that not only can such a world exist, but that He delegates us to build that world. The teachings found in Acharei-Kedoshim can certainly help bring peace to our world. By following the teachings, we find in this week’s reading, we can create a more just and compassionate society, where people are treated with dignity and respect, and where conflicts are resolved peacefully. Indeed, Rav Kook calls for us to repair our broken world. “If we and the world around us became destroyed due to baseless hatred,” he says, “then we and the world around us will be rebuilt because of baseless love” (“Orot HaKodesh” 3, p. 344).
Do you know anyone brimming with so much genuine love, awash in so much authentic positivity for oneself and for others, that s/he always radiates this needed world healing power? In Sifra on Kedoshim, it is said, “‘And you shall love your neighbor as yourself’: Rebbe Akiva says: ‘This is an all-embracing principle in the Torah’” (4:12). This complete principle, self-and other love, is central to what the world needs now… in the words of more contemporary figures, Burt F. Bachrach and Hal David, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, It’s the only thing there’s just too little of…No, not just for some, oh, but just for every, every, everyone.”
Sure, it sounds lovely, right? Be kind, love all, forgive. If only…Actually, the parashat tell us important steps in moving toward these goals, even if we don’t cross the finish line perfectly.
For example, we learn about the power of forgiveness as one of the central themes of Acharei Kedoshim. We read about the ritual of the scapegoat, which symbolizes the transfer of the sins of the people onto an animal that is then sent out into the wilderness. This ritual emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our mistakes and seeking forgiveness from others. In addition, the instruction “love your neighbor as yourself,” implies that we should forgive others just as we would want to be forgiven.
I’ve found that one of the most important Torah lessons that helps those dealing with emotional challenges, is to disconnect from anger and resentment. The Talmud in Yoma tells us that “anyone who foregoes revenge merits that Hashem forgives all his sins.” And in Pesachim we learn that Hashem loves a person “who does not get angry…and who does not insist on his due measure.” Clearly, we see in this week’s readings and related commentary, wonderful opportunities for personal growth.
We also learn about the importance of setting boundaries in our lives. For example, Leviticus 18 contains a list of prohibited sexual relationships, which serve as a way of setting clear boundaries around appropriate behavior. Similarly, Leviticus 19:11 instructs us not to steal, lie, or deceive one another, which helps to establish boundaries of honesty and trust in our relationships.
Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik has written extensively on the teachings of Acharei-Kedoshim. He emphasizes the importance of a central message this week, which is to “be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” This verse teaches us that holiness is not just a matter of ritual observance, but also involves ethical behavior and moral character, such as giving charity, treating others with respect, and avoiding negative speech. We are instructed to think with a positive mindset, striving to emulate Hashem’s positive qualities of love, compassion, and generosity.
The Chasam Sofer teaches us that Judaism calls on us to seek our holiness in our community. It is when we embrace our interactions with others, bein adam l’havero, bringing acts of kindness and caring for others, welcoming guests, rejoicing at the wedding of a couple, accompanying the deceased to their final resting place, all without measure, that we enhance our community’s – and our own – holiness. The Torah tells us “You shall be holy in the midst of the community as you are mingling with other human beings,” not in solitude. By following the commandments and striving to live a life of righteousness and holiness with others, we can create a sense of unity and shared purpose that can help to bring people together and promote peace.
Let’s face what we all know…each of us chooses mitzvot that we are comfortable with, as a way of expressing our unique religious identity. One drives on Shabbat but only to synagogue. Another would never drive on Shabbat but eats out in treif restaurants, but never eats non-kosher meat. Another believes it’s ok to shun someone because of that person’s beliefs. The list goes on and on. Each of us contributes to the holiness that is found in our Jewish nation, not by upholding all the mitzvot all the time, but by bringing a glimmer of holiness. And we all have the capacity to grow in our holiness.
On this point, we see in Pirke Avot, Rebbe Akiva saying, “Beloved is man for he was created in the image [of God]. Especially beloved is he for it was made known to him that he had been created in the image [of God], as it is said: ‘for in the image of God He made man.’” The importance of love for all people seems to be attributed to the idea that we are all made in the image of Hashem. Therefore, we have the capacity to increase our holiness, particularly by recognizing that we do not have the right to deny love to a fellow soul, who was also made in the image of Hashem.
Interestingly if you look at the order of this week’s Parahsat, Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, you might be struck by that fact that the order suggests that people rely on “after the death,” Acharei Mot, to then become Kedoshim, “holy ones.” There’s an interesting observation inside of this. We read in the first parasha, Acharei Mos, of the path for the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies, the Kodesh Kodashim. Despite the word kodesh used many times in that reading, the parasha refers to the death of Aaron’s sons that we read of last week. Kedoshim doesn’t discuss how to enter the Holy of Holies, but it is still called by that title.
It seems the Torah is saying that the title Kedoshim is teaching us that holiness is not only about entering the Holy of Holies, but rather holiness begins when we LEAVE the Holy of Holies, creating holiness in our daily lives with each other, with Hashem, in our behavior with each other. The Torah teaches us that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of positive relationships and a sense of unity.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com