spirit d
jews

in
the
torah portion

section name

What Holiness Means

W

hat does it mean to be
holy? In our generation,
the emotionally charged
observance of Yom HaZikaron, when
we honor the memories of those
who have lost their lives defending
the State of Israel, provides poignant
answers to this ancient question.
I would like to offer some context
for this matter by citing a teach-
ing from Rabbi Yechezkel
“Chatzkel” Abramsky,
Jews and Israelis, bound
legendary sage and rab-
up together with a family-
binical judge of London and
nation-state and committed
Jerusalem. He taught that
to a system of traditions and
three aspects of our ethnic-
beliefs, we must also strive
ity create Jewish identity:
to be sacred, holy.
belonging to a special nation,
This is the very first com-
a special religion and a spe-
mandment
of this week’s
Rabbi Shlomo
cial holy community. These
Torah
reading
of Kedoshim:
Riskin
three elements are expressed
“You shall be holy.” What
in the Tahanun supplication
does this mean?
that we recite after the daily
Yosef Goodman, late son
Shemoneh Esrei prayer.
of my beloved friends and
The first element is reflected in the fellow residents of Efrat, Mordechai
words: “Guardian of Israel, guard the
and Anne Goodman, demonstrated
remnant of Israel, and do not destroy how to answer this question.
Israel, those who recite ‘Shema
In early 2006, Yosef, a member of
Yisrael’.”
an elite IDF unit, was participat-
We entreat the Almighty to pre-
ing in an army training maneuver
serve also those Jews who do not
at the Nitzanim base near the city
identify with a traditional code
of Ashdod. While jumping out of
an army plane, Yosef ’s parachute
of conduct or a commitment to a
became entangled with the para-
particular faith or set of beliefs. It is
chute of his unit commander.
enough that they are citizens of the
Facing terrifying choices, Yosef
State of Israel or diaspora Jews who
made the brave and holy decision
identify with the “Jewish family” in
to disentangle his parachute, which
times of crisis.
would save the life of the command-
The prayer continues: “… guard
er, but which would catapult him to
the remnant of a unique nation, and
certain death on the ground below.
do not destroy a unique people, who
At the funeral on Har Herzl, an IDF
declare Your Name one and unique,
officer praised Yosef, calling him a
the Lord our God is one and unique.”
fearless soldier who showed everyone
We ask here for the preservation
the meaning of Zionism. Yosef, is a
also of those who see themselves as
kadosh, a holy Jew.
“Jews” in addition to being Israelis,
Please, God, preserve all members
those who live a unique traditional
of the Jewish nation: the Jews who
lifestyle of Sabbath, festivals and
have only the most basic of Jewish
kashrut, and those who are commit-
ethnic ties, those who have deep
ted to faith in one God.
Jewish religious ties and those who
The prayer concludes: “… guard
have attained a degree of God-like
the remnant of a sacred nation, and
holiness. Preserve all members of the
do not destroy a sacred people, who
Jewish nation, for each of us has the
triplicate with three sanctities before
capacity to attain holiness. •
the Sacred One.”
This is the final and highest
Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah Stone
aspect of our ethnicity: In addition
and chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel.
to our being a nation and a religion,

Parshat Achrei
Mot/Kedoshim:
Leviticus 16:1-20:27;
Amos 9:7-15.

Celebrating the 2017 Honorees

Beverly Bennett

Dr. Stuart Falk

Margot Gardner

Elaine Greenberg

Dr. Robert Matthews

Evelyn Orbach

Eunice K. Ring

Michael Weiss

SUNDAY, MAY 21

Luncheon - 11:30am

Dietary Laws Observed

Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills

Reservations required

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Princeton Enterprises
Colburn Group Insurance

GOLD SPONSORS

Anonymous
Belfor Property Restoration
Robin & Leo Eisenberg, Max, Anna & Louis
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Heather and Lowell Salesin
Star Trax
Yad Ezra

SILVER SPONSORS

G. Fisher Construction
+HQU\)RUG:HVW%ORRPÀHOG+RVSLWDO
Skinny Tees

BRONZE SPONSORS

Sponsorships as
of this date

For...

Chesapeake Community Advisors, Inc.
Cinnaire
Finsilver Construction & Development Corporation
Edward I. Fleischman Foundation
RED Capital Markets, LLC
RSM Management
Beth and Stephen Swartz
thyssenkrupp Elevator
Robert C. Wakely, AIA / Architects

Journal Ads (Deadline May 9th)
- $80
Event Reservations Adults
Under 18 - $40

visit www.jslmi.org or call
Michelle Buda at 248-592-1101

Proceeds Benefit Quality of Life for JSL Residents

jn

May 4 • 2017

39