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May 4, 2001/Iyar 11, 5761, Vol. 53, No.31
Holiness is based on sacred identity
Torah Study
RABBI SHLOMO RISKIN
Acharei Mot/K'doshim, Leviticus 16:1-20:27
What does it mean to be holy? First let us ask, what does it mean to be a Jew? Rav Yehezkel Abramsky maintains that it means that you belong to a special nation, that you belong to a special religion, and that you belong to a sacred community.
Each of these three unique aspects of our ethnicity is expressed in Tachanun, a prayer recited each morning.
The prayer opens: "Guardian of Israel, guard over the remnant of Israel, and do not destroy Israel, those who recite Sh'ma Yisrael. " The prayer speaks of Israel and not Jews.
We begin this prayer by entreating the Almighty to preserve even those Jews whose connection is merely an amorphous association with a family-state-nation, who have no real identification with a traditional code of conduct or a commitment to a particular set of beliefs.
The prayer continues: "Guardian of a unique people, guard over the remnant of a unique nation, and do not destroy a unique people, who declare Your Name one and unique."
We are now seeking to preserve those who see themselves as Jews and not merely as Israelis, those who live a unique, traditional lifestyle of Sabbath, festivals and kashrut."
And the prayer concludes: "Guardian of a sacred people, guard over the remnant of a sacred nation, and do not destroy a sacred people, who triplicate with three sanctities before the Sacred One."
Apparently this is the final and highest aspect of our ethnicity: in addition to our being a nation and a religion, Jews and Israelis, we must also strive to be sacred, holy. And indeed, that is the very first command of the second of double portion of this week's Torah reading: "You shall be holy."
If you wish to understand the true meaning of holiness, ponder over the following incident told to me by Rav Feuer, which occurred several decades ago at the marriage of Rav Yechiel Perr to Shoshanna Nekritz, granddaughter of Rav Joffen.
You can imagine that the wedding was attended by numerous Torah personalities and sages - and hence there was more than a little "competition" for the honor of reciting one of the seven blessings under the nuptial canopy.
Joffen organized the proceedings - and all of the audience was amazed when an individual whom no one seemed to know was called upon for one of the honors.
It was left for the Rebbetzen Joffen to clear up the mystery after her husband was summoned to his eternal reward.
A number of years before their granddaughter's wedding, she explained, they received an invitation to a rabbi's daughter's wedding - but as they neither knew the parents nor the young couple, they responded that they would not be attending. The rabbi called and entreated Ray Joffen with great intensity to grace his celebration, and so they agreed to come.
When the rabbi-father of the bride saw Joffen, he greeted him warmly, but the Sage was neither publicly recognized nor given any honor during the ceremony.
The rebbetzen was approaching the end of her explanation. You see, she explained, the mussar (ethicist) movement, of which Rav Joffen was a leading devotee, teaches that one must repay a slight with a favor. Instead of taking revenge, act with graciousness.
Hence, when Joffen's own granddaughter was married, he invited the same unknown rabbi to attend - and bestowed upon him the honor of reciting a blessing under the nuptial canopy.
That's what it means to be holy.
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is the spiritual leader of Efrat, Israel.
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