Parashas Kedoshim
As Rabbi Pinchas of Koritz became famous, many flocked to spend time with him and gain inspiration. He slowly lost all of his available time and became overwhelmed. He had no time to study and no time to pray. So he asked Hashem to make him detestable in the eyes of people. When a tzadik decrees, Hashem agrees, and so it was.
People stopped visiting him, they stopped seeking his counsel, and he was left alone. He was now able to devote his time to daven and learn to his heart’s content. But thSukkokahs came around. In the past, people would always volunteer to help him build his sukkah. But this year, no one came. He had to hire someone to assist him.
When he lacked the required tools and tried to borrow them from his neighbors, no one would agree to open the door for him. He was forced to send his wife out to procure the necessary tools. When he arrived in Shul, he went to the back of the synagogue. In the shtetl, the custom was that those who needed a place to eat would congregate in the back, and as the prayers finished, people would invite them to join them for their holiday meals.
But Reb Pinchas was so despised that even the homeless, desperate for a meal, scorned his invitation. He returned home empty handed. As he recited the traditional invitation to the ushpizin, Reb Pinchas looked up towards the door of his sukkah. Each year, Reb Pinchas merited to see the ushpizin as they visited his sukkah.
But this year, Reb Pinchas saw that Avraham Avinu would not enter his sukkah. Father Avraham, what’s wrong? cried and anguished Reb Pinchas. Why won’t you come into my sukkah? Avraham Avinu replied, “I lived my life dedicated to chesed, to kindness and hospitality. I will not enter a sukkah that does not have guests inside.”
It was at that moment that Reb Pinchas realized his mistake. He immediately turned his eyes heavenward and asked Hashem to reverse his prayers. “May I once again find favor in the eyes of my fellow.” And so it was. I’m reminded of this story by a powerful teaching of the Chasam Sofer in this week’s Parshah.
Parshahs Kedoshim begins with the words, “speak to the entire congregation and tell them you should be holy.” Rashi notes that the opening words speak to the entire congregation, teach us that this mandate was conveyed in a unique way. Every other mitzvah was taught from Moshe, to Aaron, to the elders, and then to the masses.
But like Hakhel, this mitzvah was taught directly to the entire nation. What is so special about this mitzvah of being holy that it was taught in this unusual way? The Chasam Sofer provides a powerful insight. The mitzvah of being holy requires one to abstain from temptation and remove distracting influences.
One may think that to become more holy, one should continue to separate oneself from the world. The more removed from others we are, the more holy we can become. But the truth is the exact opposite. It is only through others that we can truly achieve holiness. That is why this mitzvah was given in such a singular way to the entire nation as one people, since holiness is achieved not when we scorn those around us, but when we embrace them.
And this is what Reb Pinchas realized on that fateful Sukkos night. True spiritual success does not stem from less interactions with people. It rather comes from deepening our bond with our fellow man. Reb Pinchas thought that if he stayed away from others, he could do more holy deeds, only to discover that authentic holiness is serving the community’s needs.
Holiness is elevation with the nation rather than asceticism with separatism. Wishing you a holy and together filled Shabbos.
