spirituality » torah por tion

Are You Holy?

Business Leaders Lunch

Featuring

JONATHAN GREENBLATT

ADL National Director

Parshat Kedoshim: Leviticus 19:1-20:27;
Amos 9:7-9:15.

I

n this week’s Torah portion,
ments] together in their ultimate form
Kedoshim, God tells the Israelites
and,” Rabbi Greenberg says, “you have a
“kedoshim t’hee’yu” “you shall be
description of God. Add them together
holy, for I, the Lord your God,
and develop them continuously,
am holy.”
and you have a description of a
OK, God is pretty clear there.
human being becoming more
What we do with it, though, to
and more godlike.”
clearly actualize God’s directive
According to Dr. Stephen
makes all the difference.
Geller, a life without holiness is
When I think about
common. The common is what
kedoshim t’hee’yu”, I ask myself
allows us to build up defenses to
two questions: What does
protect us from the shocks that
“holy” even mean? And, how
might otherwise shake us.
Rabbi Robert
do we Jews make this concept
Geller says, “Every day we
of “being holy” part of our lives Gamer
enjoy commonness’ protection
each and every day?
and suffer its debilitations.”
Professor Nechama
For example, it allows hearing
Leibowitz wrote that, “the precepts and the number of people that die from any
laws [beginning in Kedoshim] are part
number of diseases in a given year and
of the general commandment of, ‘You
not being traumatized by the report. The
shall be holy’ and relate to all activi-
opposite of the common is the uncom-
ties of life, both of the individual and
mon or holy. It is the uncommon that
of society ... to [people’s] relationships
“makes us truly human.”
with the vegetable and animal king-
The uncommon teaches us that life
doms, with [our] Creator, to the Temple is not merely “the sum of a number of
service in all its details — all these are
biological functions.” It is the sum of
designed to lead the Jew to his [or her]
uncommon moments in our lives when
ultimate mission in life — to be holy.”
we recognize that we are different from
So, for Professor Leibowitz, the idea
the rest of God’s creation. Uncommon
of holiness applies to virtually every
moments such as the birth of a child
conceivable aspect of life. While for some or the death of a loved one awaken our
religions, holiness — the actions of liv-
senses to the mystery in the world, to the
ing a holy life — involve being separated holy in the world.
from society, for us Jews, separate does
“Kedoshim t’hee’yu,” through the
not, cannot, mean seclusion from other
observance of the mitzvot and living
people or from society in general.
my life conscious of the laws of kashrut,
Rather, it is some form of creating
by the rhythm of the Jewish calendar,
a distinct difference from the many
striving toward goodness, by striving for
common aspects in life. Think keeping
perfection and not allowing the common
kosher; think living by the rhythm of
to overwhelm me, I try to keep these
the Jewish calendar; think ethical busi-
teachings of these thinkers in my life.
ness practices.
As you read the Torah portion this
Rabbi Irving Greenberg defines holi-
week, I hope that you will think about
ness as “a quality of being special, [in a
what becoming holy may mean in
way] that is intrinsically good and ori-
your life.
ented toward perfection.”
Robert Gamer is the rabbi at Congregation
He asks, “What are the elements that
Beth Shalom in Oak Park. He lives in Huntington
make up holiness?”
Woods with his wife, Wendy, and their children
He answers, “Life, growth, power,
control, freedom, consciousness, unique- Maya, Oz, Aryeh and Avishai.
ness and relationship. Add [these ele-

Honoring Torch of Liberty Honoree

BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN

Senior Judge, United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan

Monday, May 23, 2016

12:00 pm

Program following lunch

Local Kitchen and Bar
344 W Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, MI 48220
Kosher style

(Kosher meals available upon request by May 18)

For Sponsorship and Ticket Information
Call 248.353.7553 or
www.adl.org/michigan

JONATHAN GREENBLATT

National Director
Jonathan Greenblatt, the sixth National Director of the Anti-
Defamation League (ADL), is an accomplished entrepreneur
and innovative leader with deep experience in the private,
public, and non-profit sectors. As chief executive of ADL,
Jonathan leads all aspects of one of the most respected civil
rights organizations in the country.

BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN

Senior Judge, United States District Court
Eastern District of Michigan
Bernard A. Friedman was appointed by President Ronald
Reagan as a US District Judge for the Eastern District of
Michigan in June 1988. Judge Friedman was elevated to Chief
Judge on June 16, 2004, and served in that capacity until
January 1, 2009, at which time he became a senior judge.

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May 12 • 2016

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