Parshiyot Aharei Mot – Kedoshim – 5785

May the Force Be with You

A D’var Torah for Parshiyot Aharei Mot – Kedoshim

By Rabbi Enid C. Lader (AJR ’10)

“The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them – You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” (Lev. 19:1-2)

How would you define “holy”?

What does it mean to “BE holy”?

These are questions I asked Gavriel as we prepared for his becoming a bar mitzvah last year. Upon hearing my questions, he looked at me with a blank expression, but I could tell that he was thinking… and thinking… and hesitantly answered, “Religious?”

Years ago, I had learned about and then taught other Jewish educators and teachers about Interactive Family Homework; this seemed like the perfect opportunity for Gavriel to include his grandparents in an important part of his bar mitzvah preparations. I asked him to ask them these questions, and he did. Their answers ranged from “sanctified” to “religious,” to “special, not like everyday, and doing the right thing,” to “being in awe and appreciating nature,” to “being pure and following the Ten Commandments,” to “living an exemplary life amidst so many temptations to do otherwise.”

With insights from his grandparents, Gavriel went on to the next step and made meaning for himself:

After thinking about it, it seems to me that “holy” means still religious, but also just being a good human being and also knowing that you are not the center of everything; that you are part of a larger universe. If you haven’t seen the Voyager image of the Pale Blue Dot, I highly recommend it; it shows how we are just a little speck, a little blue dot floating in space. In the grand scale of it, you are not around that long a time, but while you are – you should make the most of it – and be the best that you can be.

And to “BE holy”… well, it seems like my Torah portion makes some suggestions: Revere your mother and father… Keep Shabbat… Give to the less fortunate, even if it doesn’t really help you… Don’t scam people… Do not use God’s name when lying… Don’t exploit people… Obviously, don’t go out and rob a bank… Pay people on time…And don’t do things behind people’s backs that is not good for them, like making a blind person trip over a wall… or say something mean to someone who’s deaf… Don’t be biased; think of everyone as the same… and respect everyone as you would respect yourself, so, if someone is hurt – don’t just stand there and do nothing, but try to help them or seek help for them.

There is something very special about a thirteen-year-old’s perspective on life; I think that Gavriel really tried to make meaning for himself. He asked if a photo of Our Pale Blue Dot could be part of his bar mitzvah program, and it was.

And there was more:

So, what would holiness look like in my own life? I really do appreciate nature; I love to be outdoors and explore. At my mom’s house there is a creek and the woods are so big around it – all the trees are just amazing to look at. I also really like astronomy; we know so little and the universe is so big… yet, although the planet Earth is just a little speck on a cosmic scale, this little speck is our world. It is awesome. It is holy.

I also think the Torah is holy. Truthfully, the scroll is considered holy, but it’s really not the parchment, it’s not the ink… but it’s what the words say and the stories and lessons it tells.

In his book on Holiness and Society, Ronen Shoval writes that “… Holiness is created as a result of our actions – to establish holiness in everyday life.” (p. 42) As a people, we are called upon to be a holy collective; it is not easy to be this way each and every minute of each and every day, but we can try our best. Understanding that we share this world with other people – and nature – helps us to always keep an eye out for others and how they are being treated.

Because Gavriel’s bar mitzvah was on the afternoon of May 4^th, and he was (and still is) an ardent fan of Star Wars, it seemed only proper that we point out the connection between our own Jewish values and Star Wars. Rabbi P. J. Schwartz makes some great connections between Star Wars and the Jewish Mystics:

The Force, described by Jedi master Obi Wan Kenobi, is an energy field that surrounds all things and connects all living creatures; how we use the Force is what leads us on the light side path or the dark side path…

Jewish mysticism, specifically that of Lurianic Kabbalah (named for Isaac Luria, the 16th century rabbi who developed it), asserts that we live in a world fractured by fear, anger, hatred, and carelessness – emotions that drive us not to follow the mitzvot (sacred responsibilities) [but can turn us toward those temptations that Gavriel’s grandmother spoke about]. The mystics charge us to reassert our energy to that of honesty, compassion, love, and intent, empowering us to follow the mitzvot and become closer to the Divine sparks that can be found throughout the living world…

In the Star Wars’ universe, the light side of the Force serves as the key to overcoming the dominating dark side. As Jews, Star Wars heightens our awareness of a world fraught by the yetzer ha-rah – the inclination to do evil – and allows us to better understand the power of the yetzer ha-tov – the inclination to do good…

Interestingly, there were groups of Jewish mystics that believed the only way to overcome evil in the world was to embrace it. Indeed, Darth Vader, the main villain in the Star Wars series, chose the dark side, believing that in doing so, he could bring order to the chaotic galaxy. However, that order was indeed a dark one, and one that forcefully (no pun intended) imposed, “My way or the highway.”

Star Wars is a call to action. It turned a moisture farmer into a Jedi Knight. It turned the self-centered Han Solo into a hero who cared about others and not just about himself. It demands we drive that change toward a better future by ensuring that the force for good within each of us, and within society, prevails.

Indeed, holiness is a force – a force for goodness… We are called upon to “Be Holy” – to utilize and connect with The Force for good in our everyday lives, to be the best that we can be.

Mazal tov to all those becoming b’nei mitzvah; may they – and their families and their teachers – continue to go from strength to strength.

May the Force be with you.

Note: With special thanks to Gavriel W. for his permission to share excerpts of his bar mitzvah speech.

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Enid C. Lader (’10) is the Rabbi Emerita at Beth Israel – The West Temple in Cleveland, Ohio. She serves on the AJR Board of Directors, and is the visiting rabbi for the Jewish residents of Kendal at Oberlin, a senior community. She and her husband, Harry, enjoy the blessings of grown children, grandchildren, and retirement.