What, Me Holy?

(*Pardon the Interruption* We need some cars for our summer program.  Would you have a car you can donate?  Used car values, and therefore also tax write-offs, can be pretty hefty, if the organization you donate the car to uses the car as opposed to selling it.)

I have two questions.  First, why so many regulations?  The Torah seems to regulate every part of our lives.  Ok, it’s understandable why I should not kill or steal or lie or cheat.  But why regulate every detail of what I eat or how I behave in my private life?

Second, what does it mean when the Torah tells me: “Be holy?”  This is the name of this week’s Parsha, Kedoshim, and if the Torah is speaking to each and every one of us, then I am being told to be holy.  Holiness, one would think, is the realm of the select few truly righteous people, not for me or you.

Well, I think we can answer both questions together.  (By the way, this concept is related to my upcoming course “Beyond Right,” which shows the “soul” of the Torah’s rules and regulations, even those relating to civil law.  Starts Wednesday evening.  You can find out more information here and watch a short video preview here.)

Let’s start with two scenarios.  A young person just graduated from college, and has been offered a dream job.  This job utilizes his or her talents, abilities and education, it pays well, and is in a company that this young graduate has dreamed to work for throughout school.  He (or she) has an interview to meet the CEO and other officers in the company, and things are looking really good. 

On the way to the interview, the candidate sees a carnival.  There are rides, interesting food stands, lots of shows and exciting things to do, and he is drawn to the carnival.  He is a free thinking person who values freedom and will not allow anyone or anything to dictate to him how he will behave.  So he stops at the carnival and enjoys himself for an hour or two.  Of course he lost the job, but he followed his free will.

Now imagine another young person heading to the interview.  He or she is also drawn to the excitement of the carnival, but he recognizes that it will be a distraction from his life goals.  He has worked really hard to excel in school, he has the talents and the degree to shine in this position, and it will be the fulfillment of his life’s dream.  So he quiets his desire and drives right past the carnival.  He misses out on the unique ice cream that the French ice cream maker has brought, he does not get to watch his favorite comedy show, but he gets the job.  Which one of these is more free?

Holiness does not necessarily mean a man with a long white beard sitting in front of a big Talmud book, although of course he may be very holy.  The Hebrew word “Kadosh” – holy translates as being above, removed from the typical.  To be holy means to recognize our purpose in life and to infuse our daily actions with meaning and purpose.  

We have G-d given talents and abilities to bring light and meaning to the world.  We have been created for a purpose and a goal.  So will we allow the carnival of life to deter us from our goal?  Is following our every whim and neglecting our responsibilities really an expression of freedom?  Our core is a part of Hashem, and our true inner desire is to express our essence in our daily lives, bringing about the ultimate refinement and redemption of the world.  This is our true inner desire, and when we can overcome our external temptations and follow the goal, that is true freedom.

The Torah’s regulations are the path to our true fulfillment, the realization of our full expression of self.  When we live this way, this is a holy life.  Realistically speaking we may not be constantly thinking about holiness, but if we can keep in mind who we really are and the possibility we have to really make a difference for ourselves and the world, we will infuse our actions with some level of holiness.  And yes, this is accessible to me and to you.