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Yosher - Qedoshim</title><link rel="stylesheet"
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Qedoshim</a>'<br />
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<p>Instead of discussing a comment by the Meshekh Chokhmah this week, I chose
to present an idea from Rav Shimon Shkop’s introduction to Shaarei
Yosher. The thoughts in this shiur are bits taken from a much longer treatment
in my book, Widen Your Tent.</p>
<p>The chapter which consists of the introduction to Shaarei Yosher itself,
with my translation, is available on-line <a
href="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/ShaareiYosher.pdf">here</a>. The shiur covers
text from what was printed in the original edition as the first paragraph
(sec. 1.1 in my book), Widen Your Tent pp. 46-49.</p>
<p>Rav Shimon’s position, in outline form (the class has it in a
discursive form):</p>
<ol><li><em>Qedoshim tihyu ki Qadosh Ani</em> — be holy for I Am Holy
(Vayiqra 19:2) is also a call to emulation, to emulate His
Holiness.</li><li>The <em>medrash</em> says this mitzvah is performed through
<em>perishus</em>, which the Ramban tells us is to avoid even that which is
not under any more specific prohibition. Indulgence for its own sake can make
one a <em>naval birshus haTorah</em> — disgusting with [what otherwise
would have been] the permission of the Torah.</li><li>But 1 & 2
contradict! Hashem doesn’t need <em>perishus</em>!</li><li>And look at
the end of the medrash, “Could it truly be ‘like Me’?”
No, Hashem’s <em>qedushah </em>is greater.</li><li>Qedushah is thus
commitment to a goal, which Hashem does Single
“Mindedly”</li><li>However, we set ourselves aside for that goal,
and thus strategically, becoming holy means avoiding things that get in the
way of accomplishing it. This is the <em>medrash</em>‘s <em>perishus
</em>— the mitzvah isn’t to separate because that is being holy,
but to separate as a means of becoming holy.</li><li>Because of the gap
between Hashem’s inherent Single Mindedness and our need for
<em>perishus</em> to develop that dedication, “My Holiness is greater
than yours.”</li><li>And what goal is it we are to be committed
to?</li><li> Hashem’s motive for creation had to have been to benefit
the other, because He has none of his own needs that creation could have
met.</li><li>This is why <em>vehalakhta bidrakhav</em> — going in His
Ways, is a commandment to emulate the positive interpersonal <em>middos</em>
Hashem’s actions model for us.</li><li>Answering #8: The two emulations
(#1 and #10) are the same thing. Holiness is being consecrated toward bringing
Hashem’s Good to others.</li><li>And even though at times that means
<em>perishus</em>, when we <strong>need</strong> rest, relaxation,
entertainment and enjoyment in order to be able to better benefit others, that
R&R is also holy.</li><li>And a potentially startling element to #12: Rav
Shimon says that even the <em>mitzvos</em> between us and G-d are also only
only in the fact that they help us be more effective at benefitting the
other.</li></ol>
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<p>Audio:<br><audio
src="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/audio/SY_Qedoshim_19_2.mp3"
controls="controls"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display:
inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;"
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0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" data-mce-type="bookmark"
class="mce_SELRES_start"></span></audio></p><p> </p><p>Video:</p><p><video
controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><span data-mce-type="bookmark"
id="mce_SELREST_start" data-mce-style="overflow:hidden;line-height:0"
style="overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;"></span><source
src="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/video/SY_Qedoshim_19_2.mp4"
type="video/mp4"><span data-mce-type="bookmark" id="mce_SELREST_end"
data-mce-style="overflow:hidden;line-height:0" style="overflow: hidden;
line-height: 0;"></span></video></p>
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