WRJ Voices: Sh'mini

What does it mean to be holy?

In modern parlance, we “do lunch” with friends, and we “have conversations” about everything from work to children, from sisterhood to cooking. We “meet up” for social activities and for religious events. So, what does it look like to “do holiness,” to “have holiness,” or to “meet up with holiness?”

Sh’mini is the 3rd parshah in the book of Leviticus (Lev. 11:1 – 11:44), and it focuses quite a bit on the idea of holiness, including a number of verses containing detailed descriptions for dietary restrictions followed by a Biblical command that is found in numerous other places in the Torah:

“… For I Adonai am your God. You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy. For I Adonai am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God: you shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The Torah: A Women’s Commentary suggests that God’s holiness is given as the reason for all the dietary restrictions. So, is holiness a matter of simply following commandments? Surely, there’s more to it.

In Ellen Frankel’s The Five Books of Miriam, the question is posed: “What is the meaning of these statues, laws and rules, which Adonai our God as commanded us?” Esther (the Hidden One among the respondents) proposes that “The main purpose of these laws is spiritual: to sensitize our hearts, not our minds. Kashrut’s taboos teach us how to conduct our lives.”

We learn that we become holy by performing mitzvot, and that our relationship to each mitzvah is a way of discovering meaning. It’s not the actual mitzvah that is holy, but the doing, the experience. As an example, when the ancient Israelites performed sacrifices, there was a mystical quality to the experience. When we pray, there is the intention of creating a deep connection, a meaningful interaction between ourselves and God. When we prepare food that we share and enjoy, that food takes on significance that bonds us to others, and to our obligations and the commandments

The intentionality inherent in performing mitzvot creates an opening for sustenance in a relationship with God. If we were to randomly do everything, based on our desires of the moment, with no rhyme or reason, we would find ourselves root-less, lost among a sea of stormy waves, battered by winds from any and all directions.

In The Happiness Prayer, Rabbi Evan Moffic points out that “when we choose to be holy, we focus on our commitments and opportunities to make a difference in our world. Those commitments lead to a sense of comfort and well-being as they provide security and trust in relationships. Ultimately, these holy acts take us far beyond knowing that we have met an obligation; they reveal the path to true meaning and satisfaction.”

Ultimately, with the commandment to “sanctify yourselves and be holy,” that becomes our job. In Seekers of Meaning by Richard F. Address, he tell us that Leviticus 19 helps define the changes and transitions that lie before us: “Holiness is the substance that binds us together in relationship. It is the often-fragile bond that unites parents and children in caregiving and is the movement, like a flower arching toward the sun, of humankind to do good, to model what we perceive to be God.”

As human beings, we will always be imperfect. As a result, being holy is always a work in progress. We become more holy every time we establish an intention, when we act with compassion, show patience, and greet life with gratitude. We move towards being more holy when we remain calm, humble, modest, joyful and introspective.

It is natural for human beings to look for direction, for guidelines and boundaries. We crave structure, peaceful conditions, and a sense of belonging. The commandments, such as the ones outlined in this parashah, serve to guide and direct, to clarify the way to holiness. In our sisterhoods, we create holiness when we respect and listen to each other, when we encourage and support each other, and when we show up for each other.

Abraham Joshua Heschel asked, “What is the Jewish way to God?” and he responded, “Our understanding comes by way of Mitzvah. We do not have faith in deeds; we attain faith through deeds.”

Being holy requires us to be fully present, to develop an awareness and focus on what we are doing – all of which lends itself to an opening for the spirituality and meaning tied to the action or item. We can bring this sense of holiness to our meetings, our gatherings, our events, and our one-on-one relationships by re-affirming our commitment to mitzvot as a means for creating a more spiritual sense of purpose in our work.

Pamela Lear is Immediate Past President of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Am in Miami, FL. She currently serves on the North American Board of WRJ.