Feature Tidbit
for Parashat Emor

Kadosh, K'dusha, Kidush HaShem

Parshat K'doshim was last week's sedra, but its main theme - our command from G-d to be holy - continues well into this week's sedra of EMOR. This challenge to us begins with the words K'DOSHIM T'H'YU - BE HOLY and is followed immediately by the simple but eloquent "reason", BECAUSE I, G-D, YOUR G-D, AM HOLY. The HOW? seems obvious. We can become holy by doing mitzvot, especially with a loving commitment to G-d and an enthusiasm towards His mitzvot.

Later in the sedra, we are commanded again to sanctify ourselves and be holy. This time, the reason (so to speak) is because I Am G-d. Then, again, still in K'doshim - Be to Me holy, because I Am holy. G-d says that He will separate us from the nations of the world. A few p'sukim earlier, we were commanded to separate and distinguish between spiritual cleanliness and defilement.

In this week's parsha, the emphasis is on the sanctity of a subset of Jews, the Kohanim. And then, the even higher k'dusha of the unique individual among the kohanim, the Kohen HaGadol Mei'echav. Throughout the presentation of the issues of blemished kohanim and (l'havdil) blemished korbanot, there is a stress on the aspects of K'dusha, the sanctity of the Mikdash and the the sacred service that takes place there.

After all this - after the command to us to become holy and to the kohanim and to the Kohen Gadol - comes a mitzva to us all, to sanctify G-d and His Name and not, G-d forbid to desecrate His Name. Kidush HaShem comes, so to speak, as the culmination and perhaps summary of the whole parsha of K'DUSHA. G-d promised that we will become His Holy Nation - V'ATEM T'H'YU LI MAMLECHET KOHANIM V'GOI KADOSH. As it turns out, this was not to be a hocus pocus, poof, you are a holy nation. It is a mission and challenge which requires a lot of hard work.

If we can sanctify ourselves by doing mitzvot and in the way that we do mitzvot, we sanctify G-d by how we behave in a variety of situations.

Kidush HaShem has many definitions. They range from the dramatic, ultimate act of Jew willing to give up his life rather than forsake G-d, to the mundane, everyday behavior of a Jew, especially when observable by others, Jew and non-Jew. We can sanctify G-d's Name by refusing to bow down to an idol, or by picking up a candy wrapper from the floor and putting it into a wastepaper basket. And a lot of situations in between.

Pirkei Avot (4:4) indicates how serious the sin of Chilul HaShem is, by telling us that it doesn't matter whether it was done intentionally or unintentionally. We can suggest the same thing for the other side of the coin. There is a concept of being credited for a Kidush HaShem even if the person is unaware of the result of his actions.

A Jew who is killed because he is Jewish is considered a KADOSH, regardless of whether or not a willful act on his part was involved in his death. This includes victims of the SHO'A as well as Israeli soldiers who have fallen in defense of the country (and its people), and it includes victims of terrorism.

We can each think of examples of inadvertent Kidush HaShem. You help a stranger. Turns out he is not religious (or not Jewish) and is favorably impressed by the behavior of a religious person. The esteem of Torah rises in the person's eye. Kidush HaShem - whether you meant it or not.

Can we not also apply this idea on the founding fathers of the State of Israel. Regardless of their philosophies and their motives, there are many positive aspects to their endeavor. Jews have a spot on this world that will not say no to his request to residence. Israel has become the world center of Torah teaching and learning. People say Shabbat Shalom, Chag Same'ach, Chatima Tov, Baruch HaShem, Im Yirtzeh HaShem - even if they aren't the "type" to say those things. That's sort of a Kidush HaShem too.

There's a lot more to these thoughts. A combination of running out of time and space, and perhaps a desire that the reader can continue the thoughts in their own way - is bringing this tidbit to an end. Maybe some other time I'll have the opportunity to say more.

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