Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: The Essence of Holiness
This week we read the double portion/parashah of Aharei Mot-Kedoshim (Vayikra/Leviticus 16:1-20). These two portions contain numerous
mitzvot/ commandments, some of which make sense to us today, some which
don't, and some which are totally antithetical to what we view as
righteousness and justice. This includes the "holiness code" in chapter
19 which includes the commandment "you shall be holy, for I, the Eternal
your God, am holy" as well as "you shall love your fellow human being
as yourself." This section is viewed by our tradition as the center of
the Torah. Indeed, it is actually located almost at the center of the
scroll itself.
Though some of the prohibitions in the parashah are problematic, at best, and abhorrent, at their worst, I am going to focus specifically on the holiness code of chapter 19 and ignore the problematic verses in chapter 18 and elsewhere. The essence of this code is not simply holiness, but life itself. We are to be holy for God is holy. We are to live holy lives because we are created in the Divine image. We are to remember that we are all interconnected. All is One.
The name of the double parashah itself is telling, if interpreted a little creatively. Aharei Mot means "after the death" and refers to after the death of Aaron's sons, the priests Nadav and Avihu, who were killed by God for offering "strange fire" (see commentaries on Parshat Shemini). Kedoshim means "holy ones". And so the name of the parashah could be translated as "after death, holy ones." After the horror of the death of Nadav and Avihu, the message given is not "behave, or else God will get you!" Rather, the message is, be holy ones. Even in the face of death, destruction, loss and tragedy, we must always remember to be holy, for we are indeed holy. And our task is to bring holiness, love, and unity into the world.
With those words as my kavvanah/intention, I offer this poem to you based on the Holiness Code of Leviticus 19.
Shabbat Shalom,
SPN
wholiness
God
spoke
to
all then now forever
be
holy be whole
be
at one with me
as
I am with you
be
filled with awe at
creation
for we are all creators
humandivine
partnership
together
we create each other
each
day life anew
do
not worship the many or
the individual
as
if it were the One
lest
they tear you away from the
truth
the reality the
divine
offer
gifts of wholeness and peace
to
me to you to all
give
freely to others what you have brought
do
not attach yourself to
what is yours
for
it is not
hold
on fast and it will consume you
turning
holy into profane
shattering
the unity
into
broken pieces of illusion
the
earth and all it contains is ours
share
what you have been given
leave
for others give to others
all
that is belongs to them us
to everyone
to no one
for
it is mine
as
you are mine
and I am yours
for we are wholly
One
do
not steal with
your words
do
not obliterate with
your speech
the holiness within and around you
instead search
your heart
discover
love uncover
compassion
let
loose mercy upon
all creation
without
limits
pay
attention to
those who do not follow the
one
show
them the way
help
them to find the one to open their eyes
that
they may see me in
themselves in you
in
everything
do
not hide your love
do
not hate those
still unable
unwilling
to see
whose
eyes and hearts remain
closed
whose
fear prevents them
from
being holy
from
being whole
from
being at one
love
all others as yourself
love
yourself as all others
for
in truth other and self are delusions
all
are One all is love
completely utterly holy
that is all we need to know
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