I have a confession.
I have never seen any of the eight Jurassic Park movies. I enjoy Broadway, but I have never attended live productions of Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, or Cats.
Each time I drive by the closed Roslyn Theater, I shed a tear. Because I could always count on “The Roslyn” to offer some artsy movie playing nowhere else.
On an evening when Patte and I decide to go to the movies, no matter where we look, it seems that the same six movies are playing at every theatre.
Call me stubborn, but I hate attending anything because it’s in vogue—or where my grandchildren can get a themed soda cup at the local convenience store.
How compliant we’ve become.
I’m tired of the media obsession with glorifying the pampered lives of the rich and famous.
Every now and then, a voice rises within me, carrying a message emanating from this week’s Torah portion, and it is: “Dare to the Different.”
Over the centuries, there has been a lot of discussion about what it means to be “holy”. It is actually the title of this week’s Torah reading.
The parashah, co-titled Kedoshim, declares, “Kedoshim Tiyu”—“You Shall be Holy.”
What exactly does that mean?
The word “holy” has such a sacred implication. On the surface it beckons us to live a sacred life—close to God.
Within Judaism we accomplish this by performing mitzvot—commandments. For as the mystics taught, every mitzvah we perform liberates a spark of light and brightens the universe.
But our sages took this a step further. They taught that “holy” means, “keep yourself apart.”
There are obvious ways that we as Jews accomplish this. We eat differently. We mark our Sabbath on a different day. We pray in a different manner.
And in doing so we turn our face away from the pursuit of profit, greed and self-interest.
In the words of the 12th Century rabbi, Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor, the words, “You shall be holy” mean, “You must keep yourself apart from the material world to the extent that you can.”
What does mean in today’s world?
Perhaps it suggests that within a society that embraces commerce above all, we should pursue a life of meaning.
It means that rather than be guided by those who support or exemplify society’s lowest values, we should hold up our hands and declare, “Not me.”
Eight hundred years ago, Rashi wrote that being “holy” is to demonstrate the courage to not follow the masses. That when others do something wrong, we separate ourselves by standing up for things sacred and righteous, helping God repair this broken world.
Otherwise, says Rashi, we become like the Babylonians, who were one step removed from barbarians.
In this week’s Torah portion, we are told to “honor our neighbor as ourselves.”
Our sages examine this holy commandment, reminding us to spend more time finding common ground and less time energy excluding who is truly our neighbor.
The Torah portion also reminds not be a talebearer. Translation: “Don’t be a gossip.”
The airwaves around dinner time are filled with programs highlighting the flaws of politicians, entertainers, and sports figures.
It seems the world loves to peak behind the curtain of those in the public eye. Social media is based largely on pandering to society’s worst instincts.
So, where do we each stand regarding the proliferation of these programs—so many of which cause embarrassment, shame, and humiliation.
This week’s Torah portion speaks about the importance of “holiness,” dismissing those who designate themselves “holier than thou”—or elevating themselves because they attend religious services more often than their neighbor.
Rather, this week’s Torah portion inspires us to look into our own lives: “Are we following the crowds, or are we embracing our God-given individuality?
It inspires us to be a bit different through our actions: To not be controlled by public opinion or peer pressure, or the material greed of today’s world.
Rather, let us to dare to be “holy.”
Otherwise, according to Rashi, we are nothing more than Babylonians. And who really wants to be a Babylonian?
Rather, let us embrace the core values of being Jewish.
This week’s Torah portion inspires us—within an increasingly compliant world—to separate ourselves from many of the trends and fancies that drive this modern world.
Rather, let us be inspired to be embrace our individuality.
As the Torah teaches this week: As Jews and members of modern society, let us “Dare to be Different.”
Shabbat shalom, v’kol tuv.
Rabbi Irwin Huberman