Reflections on Parashat Shemini, Gevurah, Havdalah and Yom HaShoah There is something deeply meaningful about the word ul’havdil — to distinguish, to separate, to see clearly. In Parashat Shemini, we are told: “You must distinguish between the holy and the profane.” (Leviticus 10:10) This command isn’t only for the ancient priests standing at the threshold of the Tent […]
Holiness
You Shall Be Holy
Honoring the Beauty of What Is Parashat Kedoshim • Week 5 of the Omer: HodThemes: Gratitude • Empathy • Humility • Holiness Called to Holiness This week’s Torah portion, Kedoshim, begins with a sacred invitation:“You shall be holy, for I, Adonai your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Holiness, in this context, is not an abstract ideal but a conscious practice—rooted in kindness, honesty, justice, and compassion. It is a call to embody our highest values, and to recognize the spark of Divinity implanted within ourselves and everyone we meet. This image serves as a visual mantra—a watercolor whisper from the soul reminding us that holiness is our birthright and our calling. Sacred Stillness, Sacred Space Holiness often begins in quiet moments—in the stillness where we become attuned to what is true for us in this moment. As I wrote in one of my many journaling pages, we are each an expression of God’s Holy presence. A Transformative Realization We embark on a transformative journey when we recognize that we are holy because we are created in the image of the Divine. […]