This was a continuation of the discourse I share in the last issue of the shofar. As you know, we read from Acharei Mot that morning. It was nothing shy of miracle that we made it to Mt. Sinai. It began after the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu. They died during the dedication of the Mishkan because they screwed up.

Often when reading the Torah we’re left wondering what’s the point of all the offerings, laws, rules and regulations. The intriguing part about this parshat is that at the end of it, we’re given some insights to the reasons and the intents. I believe that it gives us the and to the age old question, “Why be a Jew?”

At the end of Chapter 18, we’re told that the “Land” expelled the people because they contaminated it with their misbehaviors, which were listed like an episode of “Family Gone Wild!”

We’re not given the whole answer until the next parshat when we’re instructed,

“kedoshim tiheyu ki kadosh ani Adonai Eloheychem”

“You shall be holy for Holy am I, Your God”

We’re told to be holy (separate and distinct). The whole purpose of all the torot, chukim and mishpatim. Interestingly, this overall intention was declared months earlier in Sh’mot 19 right before we were given the 10 Commandments, which I talked about in my last shofar entry.

As a refresher, “Now if you harken to Me and keep My covenant, you shall be My special treasure among all nations, even though all the world is Mine.”

Notice: it reads, “My covenant” and not “My mitzvot”.

It continues,

“V’atem Tiheyu-Li mamlechet v’goy kohanim eleh.”

“You will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

I think this verse and the verse in Kedoshim together tells us: Don’t just be Jew-ish. Like being red-ish or blue-ish. Meaning: to be a Jew “to some extent.” It’s more than gefilte fish, latkes, matzah ball soup, or the holidays like Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. Because that’s just being Jew-ish.

Instead, Just Be a Jew! Which means: Be a Kohen to the nations—to the world. We certainly need that today. Let’s learn together how to do that. Being a kohen wasn’t meant as a special title for only the sons of Aaron Ha-Kohen-Mashiach-The Anointed. It was meant for those who serve as ONE and that’s for YOU.