[Avodah] Meshech Chochma on kedusha

[Ben Bradley]

I'm stymied at this point by not being able to find the original posts we're referring to. But you state


'Who is bringing the Torah into the world? Is EY qadosh because it is
the subject of extra mitzvos? Or is it qadosh because we do those
mitzvos?

If you say the MC's position is the latter, you don't have to explain
why Har Sinai loses qedushah as soon as Maamad Har Sinai is over'

I think the temporary kedusha of Har Sinai is at least as consistent with the first approach as the second. Har Sinai had kedusha due to its role Hashem giving the Torah. Ma'amad finishes, kedusha ceases. At least as much emphasis on giver as receiver.

I still think Shabbos is the proof. It's kadosh because Hashem wills it, period. Its kedusha is for us, to be sure, but our failure to keep it doesn't impact its kedusha. It remains kadosh regardless of our chillul. When it comes to kedusha of places and things, our reponse affects it because it's in our physical domain. Time is not in our domain, we live in it not vice versa, so we can't affect its kedusha. But there's only one overarching model of kedusha, and the principle gorem is Hashem, not us.
Ben
________________________________
From: Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org>
Sent: 09 March 2021 06:22
To: Ben Bradley <bdbradley70 at hotmail.com>
Cc: The Avodah Torah Discussion Group <avodah at lists.aishdas.org>
Subject: Re: [Avodah] Meshech Chochma on kedusha

On Tue, Mar 09, 2021 at 11:20:10AM +0000, Ben Bradley wrote:
> He starts by saying that the kedushos of eretz yisroel and Yerushalayim
> are 'pratei usnifei haTorah v'niskadshu bikedushas ha Torah'. Ie the
> root is Hashem's Torah not our actions.

Our difference of opinion is not whether RMShK holds that qedushah means
G-dliness and thus must be connecting to Hashem's qedushah, to tzivui
and to Torah.

And thus all your quotes are consistent with my understanding, since
they aren't about our point of contention.

But:
Who is bringing the Torah into the world? Is EY qadosh because it is
the subject of extra mitzvos? Or is it qadosh because we do those
mitzvos?

If you say the MC's position is the latter, you don't have to explain
why Har Sinai loses qedushah as soon as Maamad Har Sinai is over, but
Har haBayis can be qadosh even without a BHMQ. Because it is people
who connect Divine Will with a place or object, when people lose that
association the qedushah is gone.

And then there is the text I quoted last time, which I think can only
be understood as the MC saying that qedushah comes from our bringing our
avodas Hashem, and thus His Will and His Qedushah, to the place or object.

    ... ein benivra qedushah be'etzem
    raq mitzad shemiras Yisrael haTorah
    kefi Retzon haBorei yisbarakh shemo haqadosh...


-Micha

--
Micha Berger                 "'When Adar enters, we increase our joy'
http://www.aishdas.org/asp    'Joy is nothing but Torah.'
Author: Widen Your Tent       'And whoever does more, he is praiseworthy.'"
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF                   - Rav Dovid Lifshitz zt"l
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