parsha bit: Acharei Mot - K'doshim

[cellio]

This week's parsha commands us "be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy". What does it mean to be holy? Nachmanides says it is not just keeping the commandments. A man can fulfill the law but still not be a nice person. Because one can always find loopholes in the law, he says, people will do so. To "be holy", according to Nachmanides, is to not use those loopholes, nor to over-indulge in things permitted by the torah. (Commentary on Lev 19:2)

Comments

Re: another idea

[cellio]

Good point. I think of "kadosh" as both "separate" and "for a special purpose"; to the extent that the latter is holiness that works. But I think of my challah plate as small-scale kadosh even though I wouldn't call it "holy"; it's dedicated to Shabbat/Yom Tov use, but that's different. So "holy" probably isn't the best translation.

Re: another idea

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

I can't look it up right now, but one of my favorite Torah/OT verses is from one of the prophets (Malachi?): "Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your G-d>." To me, if that's not holiness, it's at least a good start.