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LEVITICUS | 19:2 holy — LEV289 Yet another approach is offered by Nachman...

LEV289 Yet another approach is offered by Nachmanides in defining precisely what is meant in the commandment to "be holy" [this verse]. Rather than a specific action, Nachmanides says this commandment teaches the Jew an overall approach to life. There are numerous laws that a Jew might be able to observe meticulously within the letter of the law and yet still act in a disgusting manner. This Nachmanides calls "a disgusting person with the permission of the Torah." The general commandment of "Be Holy" commands the Jew that even when other Torah laws do not specifically prohibit behavior, it is forbidden under this commandment. An example given is the Jew who follows all the kosher laws strictly and pronounces a blessing over each food, but then proceeds to gorge himself in a disgusting, animalistic manner. Holiness, according to Nachmanides, forbids this practice, even though no specific law has been violated. Thus, a person is admonished not to go just by the letter of Jewish law, but to be cognizant of the spirit of the law as well. That is Jewish holiness. The analogy has been made to the physical Torah itself, which is made up of the letters of the Torah in black ink surrounded by the white parchment. The specific laws are delineated by the black ink in the words of the Torah, but the white surround is also part of the Torah. This symbolizes the spirit of the Torah, the context in which the black letters delineate the mitzvot. Thus, both a violation of the letter and the spirit of the law is a violation of the Torah and the commandment to be holy.

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Source KeyAMEMEI
Verse19:2
Keyword(s)holy
Source Page(s)101-2
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