LEV74 One of the Torah's 613 commandments is "You shall be holy" [this verse]. In Nachmanides' Torah commentary, he explains that, to achieve holiness, it is not enough to refrain from doing unholy and wrongful acts, although that indeed is a necessary first stage (we can't be holy while stealing, deceiving others, or engaging in a forbidden sexual relationship). But the second stage, to which all people should aspire, is "to sanctify yourself through that which is permitted to you" (Yevamot 20a). Thus, if we eat permitted food but "eat like a pig," we have not violated Judaism's dietary restrictions, but we have violated the command to "be holy." Similarly, if we refrain from speaking words that could console or inspire another, we have not done anything directly immoral, but we certainly have not obeyed the injunction to "be holy." To achieve holiness, we must strive to do what is permitted--whether it involves eating, speaking to others, or conducting our business--in a way that is holy. Therefore, in any given circumstance in which we are uncertain how to behave, we should ask ourselves, "What would the command to 'be holy' bid me to you do in this situation?"