Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27

The Talmudic rabbis play a game of wits where one says, ‘I can sum up the entire Torah in just seven verses.’ Then another does it in six, and so on all the way down to one. Hillel wins by restating the Golden Rule: “What is hateful to you do not to others – all the rest is commentary.” The Golden Rule, which is to love your neighbor like yourself, comes from this week’s parasha (Lev. 19:18 for those who want to know).

Far be it from me to disagree with Hillel. Yet, if it were up to me, I would pick a different verse – also, it turns out, from, this week’s parashah:

“Speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” [Lev. 19:2]

This verse is the beginning of a short, incredibly powerful section of Torah called the Holiness Code. And for me, this verse more than any other captures the essence of what Torah teaches. Let’s break it down.

The first part of the verse specifies that this commandment must be spoken to the entire collective of Israel, not just the elders. The Midrashic collection known as Sifra notes that this formulation only occurs for the most important tenets of Torah. So, the first part of the verse exists only to tell us to pay special attention to the second part of the verse: “You shall be holy …”

The English word “holy” is one of those words we toss around like “justice” where we assume that we all agree on what it means, but when push comes to shove, we find difficult to define. The Hebrew word for “holy” is kadosh. Unlike its English counterpart, kadosh has a very particular meaning: set apart for God. Shabbat is holy, it is set apart from the other days of the week. Torah is holy, it is set apart from other books.

“You shall be holy” commands us to be set apart as well, just as God is set apart. “You shall be holy” means that we are to follow a higher authority, live to a higher standard rather than merely go along with the status quo. “You shall be holy” teaches us that we are capable of more than we think, it inspires us to lift ourselves above the fray and take the long view. It reminds us that we are capable of emulating our God and that our lives have purpose.

To be a Jew, Torah teaches, is to be holy – to be set apart for God.

On the one hand, nothing could be more uplifting.

On the other hand … oy.

We have suffered so much for being different. As Tevye said in Fiddler on the Roof: “Thank you God for the great honor of choosing me, but once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?” Yet, with all of our suffering, we have also brought much light into the world – and we are not done. This is what it means to be a Jew. This is what Torah teaches us we can and must be. How do we do it? The Holiness Code gives us a start with a series of pithy commandments like the Golden Rule. However, even that is not enough. We also need to read the rest of Torah, and then Tanakh [the Jewish bible], and then look to the rabbinic tradition.

Hillel was right: all the rest is commentary. Let’s go and study.  

(From the May 2019 Temple Beth Ami Chadashot) 

Each year, our confirmands ascend the bimah on the festival of Shavuot to formally confirm their place as part of Beth Ami and the Jewish people. During the service, they will read statements about what it means to them to be Jewish. For many, hearing these statements is a powerful reminder, and sometimes a meaningful challenge. What does being Jewish mean to each of us?

The answer is deeply personal and varies from person to person. However, there is a beautiful frame which can help us find our own answers.

Anyone who has studied a second (or third) language, knows that in order to understand a language, we must also learn the culture of those who speak it. That is why great literature almost always loses something in translation, no matter how skilled the translator. Part of our challenge as American Jews is that we speak English, a language created and developed in a Christian society, which reflects Christian ideas and ideals. It is not well suited for describing what it means to be a Jew. The definition of religion is: “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency.” In other words, it is all about belief. Those who believe the central tenants of Christianity are Christian, those who do not, are not. However, for us, things are not so simple. If we really want to get somewhere, we need to turn to our language, to Hebrew. In Hebrew we are called: B’nei Yisrael – the children of Israel.

What does that mean?

Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism conceived of a layered answer:

First, we are all descended from the same man, whose name was changed from Jacob to Israel. We do not see ourselves merely has his spiritual descendants but has his genetic stock. With this in mind, Kaplan describes us as a large extended family.

Second, we are also a nation. The modern state of Israel is the third Jewish commonwealth in our ancient homeland.

Third, we are a religion, in a covenantal relationship with the Eternal.

Fourth, we are a culture, with our own languages, art, music, etc.

Fifth, we are an ethnicity (i.e. Jewish-Americans)

Taken together, these five things according to Kaplan, we are not a religion but a civilization. We are a civilization with strong familial, national, religious, cultural and ethnic components. This is why some of us are more religious, others more cultural, and others still more focused on our national interests. As a rabbi, I try to encourage us to explore every aspect of our identities, and I recognize that our ideas – even about ourselves – change over time.

One of the best ways to explore all five aspects of being Jewish is to travel to Israel, with your rabbi! Our next congregational trip to Israel is already in the works, and details can be found on our website at https://bethami.org/jewish-life/israel/. In addition, we will be getting together for an informational session on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 pm, when I will share more details about the trip and answer your questions. Please rsvp to Susan Neumann at spn@bethami.org so that we can have enough seats set for everyone.

Finally, whether you will be coming to Israel or not, we can all celebrate our Jewish identity with our Confirmation students on Shavuot, June 9 at 10:30 am. Who knows, you might even be inspired to think a little more about, well, you!

Warm Regards,

Rabbi Gary Pokras