By: Abigail Gottlieb and Sarah Safdie (11th Grade)
In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Kedoshim, Hashem gives the Jewish people commandments in order for them to lead a more fulfilling life. This can be accomplished by bringing spirituality into one’s everyday routine.
This week’s parsha features many commandments, such as maintaining holiness, sanctifying Hashem’s name, honesty in business, and honoring one’s parents.
The sages teach us that holiness translates as “separateness.” We must separate ourselves from the materialistic elements in life in order to have pure spirituality. Every Jew has a part of G-d’s holiness, which ultimately allows them to achieve a certain level of their own holiness. Since G-d brought all the Jewish people together, His wish is that holiness should be sought not only on an individual basis, but as a community as well. But how is it possible to apply this to our daily lives?
One can only attain true holiness by bringing it into one’s day-to-day life. Hashem gives us restrictions because these commandments are not only found in our synagogue rituals, but also in business and relationships, especially with our parents or spouses.
We can’t only apply holiness and honor to our davening and the rituals we perform, but we must apply it to our personal lives as well and everything we do on a daily basis.
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