Is Spiritual Holy? (adapted from Rabbi Y. Goldman)
“You shall be holy”. Those are the opening words of one of the portion we will read tomorrow morning.
Now when you think of a “holy” person what image do we conjure in our mind? A mystic in the forest? A guru mediating in the mountains? Today we’ve fallen in love with spirituality and mysticism. And yes, Judaism is certainly rich in spirituality. The mystical dimension helps connect with our faith more profoundly. But how would Judaism define "holy"?
Interestingly, right after the words “be holy”, the Torah launches into a litany of laws - respecting parents, elders, charity to the poor, honesty in business, observing the Shabbat, not to gossip, the famous "Love Thy Neighbor," not to take revenge, the forbidden relationships, etc.
Thus we see that the road to holiness in Judaism is not so much ethereal or otherworldly, but practical and pragmatic. Holiness is to be found more in the ordinary everyday things we do or don't do than in mantras and metaphysics. Self-restraint, discipline, honesty, decency, doing the right thing - these are the things that can lead us to holiness. A guru with a guitar, séances, incense, and long flowing robes might be nice. But to be holy we need to be a mentsch; we need to control our passions and to behave correctly. That is called being holy.
Holiness means distinctiveness. We are a people apart. We are told, in this week’s portion, to observe the Shabbat, to keep honest weights and measures in our shop, not to lie, and to pay our employees on time.
And the same part of the Torah that declares boldly "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself" also warns us not to get engage in intimate relations with whomever we please - not with our daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, father's wife, anyone else's wife, nor with a member of the same gender. The Jewish people are to march to a different beat.
Yes, there is something very holy about a young couple exercising self-discipline and waiting patiently until their chuppah in order to express their love for one another. It shows character, nobility, and, no doubt, they will confirm that it was worth waiting for. Yes, married couples who work hard to keep their marriages and family life intact, even though it may sometimes be difficult, are acting in a G‑dly manner. That is called being hol
So before we run to buy red strings and holy water, let us consult the Torah and try the bread and butter of Judaism. Let us live with honesty, integrity, respect, honor, dignity and discipline. Then we will be holy.
Fruma and our children (our newborn included!) join me in wishing you and your family a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
