Be Holy! That sounds simple enough!? It's kind of vague, don’t you think?
While there are many commentaries explaining what the Torah is trying to tell us (see Rashi and Ramban), I would like to highlight (excuse the pun:-) the opinion of Rabbi Shimon Shkop zt”l.
When we talk about holiness, we can’t ignore the fact that Hashem is the epitome of holiness. Yet, all that Hashem does is for us. He does nothing for himself. Even when things seem bad or disappointing, Hashem is doing it for our benefit. Therefore, Rabbi Simon Shkop (in his introduction to Sha’arei Yosher) says that holiness is making sure every action is done for the sake of others. When seeking sanctification for one’s self, a person must refrain from self interest and dedicate himself to others. To attain this level of selflessness, one must act consciously in such a manner that every action or pleasure is used to benefit others. When satisfying basic needs, ideally, a person’s mindset should be that he is satisfying himself, so that others who are dependent on him, can benefit from his actions.
If this is what being holy is all about, then I have seen and heard about some really holy Jews. Over the past month, due to our current situation, the amount of holiness that has sprung about is truly remarkable. From helping those in need with shopping, to ensuring people are not feeling alone, to strengthening our davening and learning of Torah-I have been amazed!
Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz zt”l, the famed mashgiach of the Mir yeshiva, comments in his sefer Da’at Torah that our life must be lived for the sake of the Klal, the congregation, and not selfishly, for ourselves. A self-centered person, he says, is like a dead person.
He relates a parable of a person who was on a boat and was drilling a hole in its bottom. When his friends asked what he was doing, this man responded that he was drilling the hole under his own seat, so why would it matter to them? The answer, of course, is that a hole in the boat will cause the entire boat to sink.
The entire Klal is threatened by the actions of a few and, similarly, the positive actions of an individual have positive ramifications for the entire Klal. May we continue striving for kedusha in every aspect of our lives!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Avi Hochman
