This week we saw the intersection of another murder spree at a synagogue in America Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel and the weekly Parsha (Torah reading) Kedoshim. This intersectionality brings us the news of the day the edge of the abyss and a deep deep learning…
...Kedoshim Tihiyu You shall be holy because Holy (Kadosh) am I HaShem (literally The Name i.e. the God of Israel implying a relationship of mercy) Elokeinu your God (implying a relationship of restriction)" (Leviticus 19:2).
But what is Kedushah holiness sanctity?
On the most fundamental level it means separation as in You shall be holy to Me for I HaShem am holy; and have separated you from the nations to be Mine" (Leviticus 20:26). Its a restriction from things forbidden by the God of Israel in the Torah. The medieval commentator Rashi explains it as refraining specifically from forbidden sexual relations such as homosexuality and bestiality (as described in the parsha Leviticus 20:13 15-16) and Aveirot sins in general. The Ramban another medieval commentator goes further and says its not limited to any particular Mitzvot (commandments) rather its a mindset of moderation and self-restraint self-restriction even in whats permitted going beyond the letter of the law out of love for God and that sanctifies a person.
Rav Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook in his book Orot HaKodesh (Lights of Holiness) refers to the Talmud Sukkah 21b that says the everyday conversation between Torah scholars needs learning." He elucidates that even when talking about the news of the day their words are full of Kedushah because they are concerned about how it effects Am Yisrael (the Jewish people) and Am Yisraels goal of bringing holiness to the world in serving HaShem.
Rav Kook goes further Kedushah is a normal lifestyle just on a higher plane of existence." He continues Kedushah doesnt mean separating yourself from daily life but rather uplifting those seemingly mundane activities and infusing them with deeper spiritual meaning with the intention of doing good for Am Yisrael. Thus fulfilling Am Yisraels mission to live as a Torah nation bringing ethics morality and a true understanding of divinity to humankind through serving God in this world.
Rav Kook then explains Kedushah is an internal developmental progression from the individual ego concern to grow to include encompass and be part of the Klal (Am Yisrael). The intention of someone infused with Kedushah is that every thought and action be for the welfare and benefit of the whole nation of Israel.
And what are Kedoshim?
There are Kedoshim holy individuals who have sanctified themselves" Rav Kook continues who have connected themselves to the Holy One Blessed Be He (God) on the one hand and to all of creation all of mankind on the other. Through their holy visions their holy perceptions they actually go out and do things for the benefit of Am Yisrael and for the good of mankind. They are the ones who bring blessing pleasantness feelings of peace and friendship from the source of all wisdom (God) to the world."
Rav Kook then says These masters of this lofty Kedushah negate their own personal life and live a life that transcends and includes everything…the holiness of this person the definition of this Kedushah is not that he separates himself and is ascetic like on a mountain top because he lives with everybodys heart. Someone like this who restricts himself to his own Torah learning and prayer his own service of God will suffer because his Soul which is filled with the entire creation is being squeezed like with a pliers." This type of Kadosh holy individual wants to be a giver and not a taker he sanctifies Gods name through his elevated character and behavior.
But theres another meaning of Kedoshim...
Those who have been killed for being Jewish like in the recent synagogue attacks in Pittsburgh and Poway California or during the Holocaust. And also those killed defending the Jewish people like IDF soldiers in Israel Jews killed settling the land of Israel (a Mitzvah) in terror attacks or defending the Jewish peoples way of life the Torah and Mitzvot.
We call these people Kedoshim holy ones who died Al Kiddush HaShem" (to sanctify Gods Name). There are Kedoshim (individual Jews) who live lives of holiness and those who even if they hadnt died in holiness.
But whereas for an individual Jew its a Kiddush HaShem dying for God Torah the people and land of Israel the inverse concept is true on the national level. Every attack on Jews pogrom and holocaust and war made against Israel is a Chillul HaShem (as if an emptying of Gods Name His presence in the world). From the perspective of the nations its as if the God of Israel isnt strong enough to protect His people. Like the way Nazis abused and killed Jews laughed and asked Wheres your God if hes so powerful why isnt he helping you now?"
So too as it says in Ezekiel 36:20-21 When they came to the nations wherever they went they profaned My Holy Name for it was said of them These are the Lords people and yet they have gone out of His land. But I had concern for My Holy Name which the house of Israel profaned among the nations (Chillul HaShem) where they had gone." It seemed to the nations as if the God of Israel wasnt strong enough to keep them in His land.
Therefore say to the house of Israel Thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake O house of Israel but for My Holy Names sake which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. I will sanctify My Great Name which has been profaned among the nations which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am HaShem says the Lord God when I am sanctified through you (Kiddush HaShem) before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations gather you out of all countries and bring you back into your own land" (Ezekiel 36:22-24).
Proving finally to the nations that the God of Israel exists.
Anger hatred vengence killing and bloodshed are generally looked down upon even forbidden in Judaism and not the purview of elevated character for an individual as in Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take revenge..." Yet again we see the inverse concept on the national level for the sake of Am Yisrael.
The Book of Numbers (31:1-3) describes the battle against Midian after what they did to the Jewish people HaShem spoke to Moshe saying: Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Children of Israel. After that you will be gathered to your people you will die. So Moses said to the people: Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lords vengeance on them."
The rabbis of the midrash (Tanchuma Matot 3) ask: HaShem says the Children of Israels vengence and yet Moshe tells the Israelites HaShems Vengence? They explain that Moshe then said to God: if we were uncircumcised idol worshippers they wouldnt hate us but because you gave us Your Torah they hate us" and the rabbis conclude by teaching the vengence of Am Yisrael to eliminate a Chillul HaShem is Gods Vengence and a Kiddush HaShem.
Moshe could have stalled for time to live longer but filled with Kedushah he lusted to see vengence carried out on the Midianites (Kiddush HaShem) and rushed to carry out HaShems command.
So while those individual Jews killed in hate crimes terror attacks and the Holocaust died Al Kiddush HaShem; for the nation of Israel as a nation its a Chillul HaShem and needs to be avenged. To avenge the Jewish peoples honor is to avenge Gods Honor in this world. To see the punishment of the wicked brings Kiddush HaShem into the world. Then and only then do the nations really know there is a God of Israel!
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2019/5779 Pasko
This week we saw the intersection of another murder spree at a synagogue in America Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel and the weekly Parsha (Torah reading) Kedoshim. This intersectionality brings us the news of the day the edge of the abyss and a deep deep learning…
...Kedoshim Tihiyu You shall be holy because Holy (Kadosh) am I HaShem (literally The Name i.e. the God of Israel implying a relationship of mercy) Elokeinu your God (implying a relationship of restriction)" (Leviticus 19:2).
But what is Kedushah holiness sanctity?
On the most fundamental level it means separation as in You shall be holy to Me for I HaShem am holy; and have separated you from the nations to be Mine" (Leviticus 20:26). Its a restriction from things forbidden by the God of Israel in the Torah. The medieval commentator Rashi explains it as refraining specifically from forbidden sexual relations such as homosexuality and bestiality (as described in the parsha Leviticus 20:13 15-16) and Aveirot sins in general. The Ramban another medieval commentator goes further and says its not limited to any particular Mitzvot (commandments) rather its a mindset of moderation and self-restraint self-restriction even in whats permitted going beyond the letter of the law out of love for God and that sanctifies a person.
Rav Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook in his book Orot HaKodesh (Lights of Holiness) refers to the Talmud Sukkah 21b that says the everyday conversation between Torah scholars needs learning." He elucidates that even when talking about the news of the day their words are full of Kedushah because they are concerned about how it effects Am Yisrael (the Jewish people) and Am Yisraels goal of bringing holiness to the world in serving HaShem.
Rav Kook goes further Kedushah is a normal lifestyle just on a higher plane of existence." He continues Kedushah doesnt mean separating yourself from daily life but rather uplifting those seemingly mundane activities and infusing them with deeper spiritual meaning with the intention of doing good for Am Yisrael. Thus fulfilling Am Yisraels mission to live as a Torah nation bringing ethics morality and a true understanding of divinity to humankind through serving God in this world.
Rav Kook then explains Kedushah is an internal developmental progression from the individual ego concern to grow to include encompass and be part of the Klal (Am Yisrael). The intention of someone infused with Kedushah is that every thought and action be for the welfare and benefit of the whole nation of Israel.
And what are Kedoshim?
There are Kedoshim holy individuals who have sanctified themselves" Rav Kook continues who have connected themselves to the Holy One Blessed Be He (God) on the one hand and to all of creation all of mankind on the other. Through their holy visions their holy perceptions they actually go out and do things for the benefit of Am Yisrael and for the good of mankind. They are the ones who bring blessing pleasantness feelings of peace and friendship from the source of all wisdom (God) to the world."
Rav Kook then says These masters of this lofty Kedushah negate their own personal life and live a life that transcends and includes everything…the holiness of this person the definition of this Kedushah is not that he separates himself and is ascetic like on a mountain top because he lives with everybodys heart. Someone like this who restricts himself to his own Torah learning and prayer his own service of God will suffer because his Soul which is filled with the entire creation is being squeezed like with a pliers." This type of Kadosh holy individual wants to be a giver and not a taker he sanctifies Gods name through his elevated character and behavior.
But theres another meaning of Kedoshim...
Those who have been killed for being Jewish like in the recent synagogue attacks in Pittsburgh and Poway California or during the Holocaust. And also those killed defending the Jewish people like IDF soldiers in Israel Jews killed settling the land of Israel (a Mitzvah) in terror attacks or defending the Jewish peoples way of life the Torah and Mitzvot.
We call these people Kedoshim holy ones who died Al Kiddush HaShem" (to sanctify Gods Name). There are Kedoshim (individual Jews) who live lives of holiness and those who even if they hadnt died in holiness.
But whereas for an individual Jew its a Kiddush HaShem dying for God Torah the people and land of Israel the inverse concept is true on the national level. Every attack on Jews pogrom and holocaust and war made against Israel is a Chillul HaShem (as if an emptying of Gods Name His presence in the world). From the perspective of the nations its as if the God of Israel isnt strong enough to protect His people. Like the way Nazis abused and killed Jews laughed and asked Wheres your God if hes so powerful why isnt he helping you now?"
So too as it says in Ezekiel 36:20-21 When they came to the nations wherever they went they profaned My Holy Name for it was said of them These are the Lords people and yet they have gone out of His land. But I had concern for My Holy Name which the house of Israel profaned among the nations (Chillul HaShem) where they had gone." It seemed to the nations as if the God of Israel wasnt strong enough to keep them in His land.
Therefore say to the house of Israel Thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake O house of Israel but for My Holy Names sake which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. I will sanctify My Great Name which has been profaned among the nations which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am HaShem says the Lord God when I am sanctified through you (Kiddush HaShem) before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations gather you out of all countries and bring you back into your own land" (Ezekiel 36:22-24).
Proving finally to the nations that the God of Israel exists.
Anger hatred vengence killing and bloodshed are generally looked down upon even forbidden in Judaism and not the purview of elevated character for an individual as in Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take revenge..." Yet again we see the inverse concept on the national level for the sake of Am Yisrael.
The Book of Numbers (31:1-3) describes the battle against Midian after what they did to the Jewish people HaShem spoke to Moshe saying: Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Children of Israel. After that you will be gathered to your people you will die. So Moses said to the people: Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lords vengeance on them."
The rabbis of the midrash (Tanchuma Matot 3) ask: HaShem says the Children of Israels vengence and yet Moshe tells the Israelites HaShems Vengence? They explain that Moshe then said to God: if we were uncircumcised idol worshippers they wouldnt hate us but because you gave us Your Torah they hate us" and the rabbis conclude by teaching the vengence of Am Yisrael to eliminate a Chillul HaShem is Gods Vengence and a Kiddush HaShem.
Moshe could have stalled for time to live longer but filled with Kedushah he lusted to see vengence carried out on the Midianites (Kiddush HaShem) and rushed to carry out HaShems command.
So while those individual Jews killed in hate crimes terror attacks and the Holocaust died Al Kiddush HaShem; for the nation of Israel as a nation its a Chillul HaShem and needs to be avenged. To avenge the Jewish peoples honor is to avenge Gods Honor in this world. To see the punishment of the wicked brings Kiddush HaShem into the world. Then and only then do the nations really know there is a God of Israel!
Ariel Natan Pasko an independent analyst and consultant has a Masters Degree specializing in International Relations Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.
(c) 2019/5779 Pasko