Parshat Acharei Mos Kedoshim 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
BS"D
Parshat Acharei Mos – Kedoshim
We read in this week's parsha (Chapter 18, Pasuk 5) U'Shemartem es Chukosai V'es Mishpatai Asher Ya'aseh Osam Ha'Adam V'Chai Bahem. The Torah teaches us that we must perform the mitzvos of Hashem and live through the mitzvos. The Gemara in Yoma 85B teaches V'Chai Bahem, V'Lo Sheyamus Bahem; he shall live through the mitzvos but do not die as result of the mitzvos. The mitzvos are meant to be kept if they keep us alive, but if there is even a chance that one might die by keeping a mitzvah then he should violate the Torah and stay alive. The exceptions to this rule are the prohibitions against idolatry, murder, and the forbidden relationships.
Rashi on the pasuk asks, since all men ultimately die, keeping the mitzvos isn't meant to keep a person alive forever. Rather, the words "he shall live with them" V'Chai Bahem refer to Olam Haba. Keeping mitzvos gives one eternal life, life in the world to come.
The Sfas Emes explains the point in the following manner. When there is sin, there is death and after the sin of Adam HaRishon, man became destined to die. But when one follows the mitzvos he experiences true life. He attains spiritual levels which place him beyond the normal limitations of Olam Hazeh, of the physical world. The performance of the mitzvos gives him a unique level of Kedushah which is meant to be one's true chiyus; hence Asher Ya'aseh Osam Ha'Adam V'Chai Bahem. And this is why we make a bracha before performing mitzvos Asher Kidshanu B'Mitzvosav V'Tzivanu; performing mitzvos sanctifies us.
And how are we, mere mortals, able to reach this holiness through mitzvos?
The answer to this is learned from the p'shat in the pasuk in the beginning of the second parsha we read this week. Kedoshim Tihyu Ki Kadosh Ani Hashem Elokeichem. It is through our connection to Gd that we are able to achieve holiness. When we subjugate our will to the will of Hashem and fulfill His commands, we are able to become holy and it gives us true chiyus and eternal life. Though we are immersed in the world of physical desire and physical action, when we subjugate our desire to the will of Hashem and our actions are acts of mitzvos, it gives us eternal life and eternal Kedushah. It is through the commands of Hashem that the holiness contained in the physical world of Olam Hazeh is revealed.
Rashi on the first pasuk of parshat Kedoshim teaches that this parsha was taught B'Hakhel. All of Bnei Yisrael were brought together in order to learn these very important mitzvos in the parsha, the first of them being Kedoshim Tihyu. The Sfas Emes explains that this is because without this togetherness, without one being part of Clal Yisrael, one cannot attain the level of Kedushah commanded in the pasuk. We can only achieve holiness because Hashem is holy, and Hashem has chosen the Jewish people to be those who express His holiness in the world. Only when we make ourselves part of the group of Clal Yisrael can we achieve this unique Kedushah and eternal life which is contained within the mitzvos of Hashem. During this period of Sefirah, when we count up to receiving the Torah at Har Sinai, we ought to foucs on this need for unity. For the Torah was given to Bnei Yisrael only when we were in a state of K'Ish Echad B'Lev Echad; a fundamental requirement for accepting the mitzvos of the Torah.
Good Shabbos
Print this article