Parashat Acharei Mot–Kedoshim
In this week’s parashah, we read:
“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein (whose yahrzeit is today) taught that the word “for” in this verse does not mean “like”—not that we should be holy like Hashem—
—but rather:
BECAUSE.
Because He is holy.
There is a supreme level of holiness—
Hashem is the very pinnacle of holiness!
And when a person connects to Him, he absorbs that holiness within himself and becomes so sanctified that he can then bring holiness into other aspects of the world.
A connection to the source of holiness (kedushah) enables me to become His emissary.
As we say on the Seder night:
“Kadesh!” — Sanctify!
To be truly free means to go out and sanctify the world.
Our capacity for holiness flows directly from our connection to the source of holiness.
Our neshomme is literally, a part of Hashem Himself.
