25 Apr PARASHAT KEDOSHIM: COMPLMENTING ONE ANOTHER

The Torah in
Parashat Kedoshim
presents a large
number of Misvot,
covering a very wide
range of topics. This Parasha begins with
G-d instructing Moshe to present these
commands “El Kol Adat Beneh Yisrael” –
“to the entire congregation of the Children
of Israel.” Rashi, based on the Midrash,
explains this to mean that this section was
given “Be’hak’hel” – at an assembly of
the entire nation. These laws needed to be
presented to everyone all together, because,
Rashi explains, “Rob Gufeh Torah Teluyin
Bah” – loosely translated, this section
contains most of the essential principles of
the Torah.
We might, however, suggest a deeper
interpretation of Rashi’s comment.
The Gemara in Masechet Hulin (7) states:
“Yisrael are all holy. There are those who
want but do not have, and there are those
who have but do not want.” Some people
yearn to perform Misvot and dispense
kindness, but lack the resources to do so,
whereas other have the resources, but lack
the desire.
Surprisingly, the Gemara introduces

this observation by stating, “Kol Yisrael
Kedoshim” – all Jews are holy. How could
the Gemara make such a comment before
noting that there are those among us who
have the ability to perform Misvot but do
not? How can they also be holy?
Tosafot explain that the people mentioned
by the Gemara do not want to give, but
because they are ashamed, they bring the
needy into their homes and feed them.
Therefore, even they are “holy,” because
they give charity, albeit for less than pure
motives.
The Slonimer Rebbe (Rav Shalom Noah
Berezovsky, 1911-2000) explains the
Gemara differently. He writes that for a
Misva to be complete, it must be performed
to perfection, and also accompanied by a
genuine desire to serve G-d. Very often,
however, people have only one without
the other. Some people have the sincere
desire to perform Misvot, but are unable
to perform them properly, whereas others
have the ability to perform Misvot, and
indeed perform Misvot, but without zeal
and passion for Misvot. The Slonimer
Rebbe observed that in the generation of the
Holocaust, there were Jews who desperately
wanted to perform Misvot, but were unable
to do so. They wanted so badly to eat Masa,

eat in a Sukka, light Hanukah candles, wear
Tefillin, and so on, but were denied these
opportunities. In the generations after the
Holocaust, the opposite is true. We have
the opportunity to perform Misvot, and we
do perform Misvot, but we lack the kind of
desire and passion that Misvot deserve.
The Slonimer Rebbe proceeded to teach
that when we come together in heart and
spirit with the previous generations, we
form complete Misvot. Our practical
observance of the Misvot combines with
the desire and yearning for Misvot felt by
our predecessors, and then we all together
are credited with the performance of perfect
Misvot.
With this in mind, we could perhaps
suggest an explanation of Rashi’s comment
regarding Parashat Kedoshim. Rashi writes
that this Parasha contains “Rob Gufeh
Torah” – many Misva actions which must be
performed. The word “Guf” (“body”) refers
to bodily actions, and thus Rashi speaks here
of the practical aspect of Misvot. In order
for these actions to be complete, they need
the required emotion and feeling, which
not everyone is capable of experiencing.
And therefore, this Parasha had to be taught
“Be’hak’hel,” with everyone together.
Hashem wanted to show the people that

they need to come together in order to
complement one another, such that each
person contributes his or her portion. Some
will be able to perform the actions, while
others will be unable to perform the actions,
but will be able to supply the thoughts and
feelings.
We are all different. We each have very
different strengths, weaknesses, skills,
resources and limitations. When we
harmoniously blend together, with mutual
respect and unity, we complement one
another and are then able to create the
kind of perfect, sacred nation that we are
to create. Let us strive to get along with
and respect all our fellow Jews, even
those who are very different from us, so
we complement one another and together
become the nation that Hashem wants us
to be.