For an explanation of the methodology of this series, see the introduction.
"For I am the L-rd your G‑d, and you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am holy, and you shall not defile yourselves through any creeping creature that crawls on the ground." (Lev. 11:44)
Peshat (basic meaning):
Rashi: For I am the L-rd your G‑d
Just as I am holy, for I am the L-rd your G‑d, so too, you
shall make yourselves holy, [i.e.,] sanctify yourselves below [on earth].
and be holy:
before Me, for I will make you holy
above and in the world to come.
and you shall not defile yourselves
[This prohibition is written to make a culprit] guilty of
transgressing many negative commandments. And for [the violation of] each
negative commandment, [the guilty party
receives] lashes.
This is what [the Sages] said: "If one eats a
putisa [a small unclean aquatic creature], one receives four series of
lashes [i.e., four separate series of lashes for the four negative commandments
transgressed by eating that one creature]; if one eats an ant, one receives five
series of lashes; if one eats a hornet [he receives] six series of lashes." (Makot 16)
Remez (hinted meaning):
Baal HaTurim: "and you shall sanctify yourselves"
One should sanctify oneself at the time of marital relations.
"do not defile yourself"
One may not
restrain one's bowels. [The connection between the 2 parts of the verse is that]
after leaving the lavatory, one should not immediately engage in marital
relations.
Derash (interpretive meaning):
Ohr HaChayim: "for I am the L-rd your G‑d"
He has not described himself as G‑d of any other nation. That obligates us
to keep our distance from anything which contaminates us.
"Sanctify yourselves and be holy"
If we do
our share in trying to deserve the title Holy, G‑d will bestow the title upon us
by not letting us get contaminated. This also means to erect protective legal
fences to reduce the likelihood of contracting impurity.
"for I am holy"
G‑d made his presence among
us dependant on our keeping ourselves apart from contaminating influences.
Sod (esoteric, mystical meaning):
Zohar Shemini 41:
Come and see: it is written, "Israel, in whom I
will be glorified". (Isaiah 49:3) If G‑d is glorified by Israel, how can
they defile themselves and cling to the Side of Uncleanness? Therefore, it is
written: "you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy:
for I am holy", and, "you shall not make your souls abominable."
BeRahamim LeHayyim:
If we only knew, really knew, in our heart of hearts,
how special it is to be a member of Israel! Chosen for a unique mission in world
history to behold the Revelation at Sinai, distill it for the nations, and be a
beacon of holiness for our earth plane.
Not better. That’s not the idea at all. Rather, Special.
With a special mission. A special mission encoded in our spiritual DNA that
heard the letter Alef at Mount Sinai, and forever were different.
Maybe that's one reason why we are not to eat creepy
crawling things on either land or sea , other than our instinctive distaste.
These creatures bring us down; the spark of holiness in them is too embedded to
be retrieved and elevated.
Yes, surely, perhaps more harm comes from what comes out
of our mouth than what goes into it [i.e. slander and malicious talk, which can
cause the Tzora'at, as we will learn next week].
The Holy-ness code of Vayikra begins.
May it open us all up to a higher consciousness. Amen.
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