By Rabbi
Yisroel Shusterman
This
week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr. Binyomin Philipson in memory of
his late mother Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM
Have you ever felt
like losing your temper but at the last moment you managed to restrain yourself?
These types of inner battles often happen when encountered by a traffic officer
or similar representatives of officialdom. But this conflict can happen just as
well on the domestic front.....and the same restraint is needed!
The Parshah of
Kedoshim (Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:1-20:27), begins with the concept that we
should be holy. What exactly does this mean? The commenter Rashi explains that
the term "holy" implies self-restraint. There are many temptations in
life. To be holy means to have the ability to control one's immediate impulses.
Another commentator,
Nachmanides, makes the point that this self-restraint may sometimes take a
person to a point beyond the simple letter of the law. Jewish law permits a
person to eat kosher food: but should one be an out-and-out glutton? According
to this view, even if the food is as kosher as could be, restraint is power; it
shows that one is truly free as an individual, rather than just being just a
slave of one's appetite.
Do you remember the
story of Jacob and Esau and the plate of lentils? One way of understanding that
story is that Esau was ready to sell his birthright, the most precious thing in
his life, for a plate of food. One response might be: "How pathetic!"
Others might feel sympathy with someone who is sometimes a slave to his senses.
They might say that after all, this is our human situation. Nonetheless, one should
expect a person to aspire to be master of his or her own being. A human being,
yes. An animal -- no.
Much of the Parshah
is devoted to giving guidelines about this kind of self-mastery, in a number of
different areas of life. The keynote to all these is the famous teaching
"Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Rabbi Akiva
taught that this is the great principle of the Torah and it relates to all
other aspects of Jewish thought and all areas of personal relationships. This
includes, as well, the instruction not to take revenge, nor even to bear a
grudge. This certainly needs self-control: in our actions, our words and even our
thoughts.
Imagine such a
person! Does he or she actually exist?
We can imagine this
behavior happening with a very simple, naive or even inspired kind of person,
who never sees bad in anyone. Or we can imagine a person of power, who has
acquired genuine inner self-mastery. But us, for ourselves as well? Can we
exercise such self-restraint? But if the Torah instructs us to do so, then we
have that ability!
What is power?
Throughout history people thought that it means mastery over others. Now we
realize, it is mastery over oneself.
Daily life presents
us with many instances of personal battles and confrontations, as suggested and
implied in our Parshah. This would include our relationships with our parents,
in business dealings, dealing with giving charity, in the borders and
involvements between men and women, and also regarding our behavior when we are
genuinely in power over others, e.g. as judges - to be fair in all areas of
judgment to both rich and poor.
This Torah portion
poses the challenge for man to exercise the power of restraint, in order to
build a world of goodness for the future. Man has that ability to restrain
himself when and where needed, which will help bring about an entire world
filled with holiness.
(Excerpts
from Chabad.org – by Rabbi Tali Loewenthal)
A Meaningful and Uplifting Shabbos to
all!
