Two Minute Torah Podcast

Kedoshim 5768 by Jessica Boyd

Shalom, my name is Jessica Boyd and I am KOACH’s webmaster. Welcome to another edition of KOACH’s Two Minute Torah podcast, a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

In Parashat kedoshim, God tells Moses to say to the Israelites, “You shall be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” and proceeds to list a variety of mitzvot, spanning all categories, many of which focus on how to treat other human beings. “You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind.” and “judge your kinsman fairly” are just a few. The all-encompassing “Love your fellow as yourself,” also appears in this parashah, which many sages, including Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Akiva, regarded as a central teaching of Torah.

These kinds of mitzvot that dictate how we treat each other are some of the most serious and yet the most difficult to keep. Everyone knows that lashon hara is bad and we all find ourselves doing it without even thinking. Unlike cheating someone in business, hurtful words cannot simply be repaid. Treating each other fairly and kindly, even with our speech, is a way that we can grow closer to God’s image of holiness as commanded in this parashah.

Parashat Kedoshim always falls after Pesach, during the 49 day period leading up to Shavuot, in which we count the omer. Many customs observed during this period mirror mourning rituals where some people refrain from cutting their hair, shaving, listening to instrumental music and holding celebrations like weddings. Traditionally, the omer period has also been considered a time of reflection; a time to focus inward on our own spiritual growth.

Counting the omer every night can give us a moment to pause and reflect on the day’s exchange so that we can constantly improve and be more mindful with each new day. With the lessons found in parashat kedoshim in mind, we have the opportunity every day with our normal interactions to bring ourselves closer to the state of holiness dictated by God.

As we continue counting down towards Shavuot and the giving of the Torah, may we be truly worthy of receiving it.