Acharei Mos-Kedoshim: Be Holy

דבר אל כל עדת בני ישראל ואמרת אלהם קדשים תהיו כי קדוש אני ד' אלקיכם 

“Speak to the entire congregation of Bnei Yisroel, and say to them ‘BE HOLY’ for I, Hashem your G-d, am Holy.”

What exactly does the mitzvah “to be holy” require of us, and how does one fulfill it? How does a person go about making themselves holy, and how can we truly sanctify ourselves?

The Meforshim (commentators) offer various interpretations which, rather than being mutually exclusive, complement one another to provide a complete picture of Kedushah.

Rashi explains that this is a reinforcement of the prohibitions against immorality discussed in the previous parsha; he notes that "abstention from immoral acts is consistently associated with holiness." One who musters the strength to rise above their baser nature to serve Hashem truly sanctifies themselves. One who guards their home against foreign influences has sanctified their home. And one who lives life with a higher purpose has sanctified their very existence. Life is not merely the pursuit of hedonistic pleasure; it is the ability to rise above it. This discipline infuses a person with sanctity.

Ramban explains that, theoretically, one can live a life according to the "letter of the law"—eating Kosher, keeping Shabbos, and so on—yet within that technical framework, remain the same coarse person they were to begin with. To the Ramban, the Torah is providing a direction: the mitzvos were meant to elevate us and refine us into spiritual beings. We should view the mitzvos as a guide to what Hashem desires of us, allowing the worldview of the Torah to transform our characters and permeate our very being. “Be Holy,” then, is a command to allow the Torah to change us from the inside out.

Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l suggests that the mitzvah “to be Holy” establishes a specific mindset regarding how we approach the mitzvos. He explains that we were given these commandments because of our intrinsic holiness. Just as a Kohen has special requirements meant to preserve his unique kedusha, so too, the Jewish People were given the Torah and mitzvos by virtue of the holiness that already exists within each and every one of us. We possess an innate capacity to be close to Hashem; to facilitate that connection, Hashem gave us the gift of the Torah.

The days of Sefirah are designated as a time to introspect and internalize the lessons of the Exodus—to reach a level where we are ready to appreciate the Torah's magnitude. How fortunate we are to possess an intrinsic kedusha waiting to be nurtured. By implementing self-discipline, infusing our lives with meaning, and allowing the Torah to transform us, we can truly fulfill Hashem’s vision for us.

May we all merit true holiness and see the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days!