Kedoshim essay תרל”א
Kedoshim Tihiyu:
The Medrash explains that this is actually a promise. Because how can a mortal person indeed purify himself to become holy? It is only because HaShem is holy – Ki kadosh ani HaShem. When HaShem took us out of Mitzrayim, he was creating a new existence for us, we have been removed and separated from the rest of the nations and therefore the ‘Chiyus’ Life force that we have is now from HaShem directly. Even though the rest of the word has also been created by HaShem however this is only through hester and tzimtzum.
רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צב, ט): וְאַתָּה מָרוֹם לְעֹלָם ה’, לְעוֹלָם יָדְךָ בָּעֶלְיוֹנָה. בְּנֹהַג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יוֹשֵׁב בַּדִּין, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן דִּימוּס, כָּל הָעָם מְקַלְּסִין אוֹתוֹ, וּבִזְמַן שֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן סְפִיקָלָא, אֵין כָּל בְּרִיָה מְקַלֶּסֶת אוֹתוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם יוֹדְעִין שֶׁיֵּשׁ שֶׁטֶף בְּדִינוֹ. אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינוֹ כֵן, אֶלָּא בֵּין בְּמִדַּת הַטּוֹב, בֵּין בְּמִדַּת פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת וְאַתָּה מָרוֹם לְעוֹלָם ה’, לְעוֹלָם יָדְךָ בָּעֶלְיוֹנָה
The Medrash says Vata marom leolam HaShem- Yadcha Ba’elyona. You are exalted, your hand is above. Nature covers up everything including the chiyus of HaShem in all, in stages of more and more hiddenness, however HaShem Himself is completely above that all. This means that that element of HaShem is actually here in the lowly nature in it’s full force!
Now we can understand the beginning, how a person can be holy in this world. Because that element of chiyus is in its same force always and in each action that a person does he can connect to that in its deepest sense and therefore become holy.
Rashi says that this parsha was read at Hakehel. This is because in order to reach this level of holiness it is primarily found when one is part of Klal Yisrael. Which is called Kneset Yisrael, the gathering of Yisrael, the gathering of all the chiyus to be uplifted to HaShem. Therefore through nullifying oneself to the klal to the nation one can become holy.
On Shabbos it also uses the word Vayekadesh He sanctified. For this is also a day when it is easier to become holy. Because at this time the chiyus in everything becomes clear and purified.
Uberachto: HaShem blessed this day from all other days, it is a time when there is an emanation of life to all the other days.
Vekidashto mikol hayamim: and He sanctified it above all other days, for this day is connected to the chiyus above it and one can bring down holiness to all the other days.
Which comes from being one with everything.
Similarly with all mitzvot – Asher kideshanu He sanctified us with them, and they correspond to the 248 limbs, through the action of the mitzvah which has in it the light of the commandment of HaShem in the action, one can purify the holiness in the action.
And so too in every action (not mitzvot) there is the will of HaShem (for without His will the action wouldn’t exist)
And similarly it says that one will do them and live by them, meaning this chiyus of all one’s actions should be through the mitzvot which is the will of HaShem that gives sustenance to all actions.
