by
Rabbi Michael Laitner

Parshat Tezaveh

Q: What is holy?

‘…and the Altar shall be a holy of holies, whoever touches it is sanctified’. (Shemot 29:37) - This verse from our Sidra gives us one approach.

A: Rashi, the premier Torah commentator, asks what this sanctification is. He answers with the continuation of the verse, and its explanation in the Talmud (Zevachim 83a), that the altar was used for sacrifices, yet even a previously invalid sacrifice could be sanctified by the altar and was not taken off.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, a towering 20^th century Rabbinic figure, sees a dual answer to out question from this verse. This brass altar was outside of the central area of the temple, yet still is ascribed the appellation of ‘holy of holies’, unlike the incense altar, which even though it was in the more sacred area, is only called ‘holy’. Somebody who is in a sheltered holy environment represents that environment when he steps outside of it to a less holy environment. In the less holy environment, he must be a ‘holy of holies’. This is primarily to safeguard our own standards, even in potentially hostile conditions.

Furthermore, if our own standards begin to slip, and we feel confusion, we know that there is a fallback - a holy of holies - where we can regroup, from where we can garner renewed strength. This comes from the study of Torah and its practice, which are designed to improve us, to make us better, more sensitive people, more accustomed to upholding our standards.

One aspect of holiness, which I think Rashi stresses, depends on us. Daily, we find ourselves needing to leave the ‘holy of holies’, perhaps for some of the challenges of everyday life. If we prepare properly, through the study and practice of Torah, then we can sanctify ourselves and the world around us by ennobling behaviour. A significant part of what is holy is down to us!