A New Humash

Kedoshim Tehiyu:
How We Create (and Become) Holy Dogs and Mitzvah Heroes

Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim
May 1, 2004 / 10 Iyyar 5764
By Rabbi Mark B Greenspan

I hope when you leave shul this morning you'll go home and tell all your family and friends that OJC has gone to the dogs! Dogs after all are not just four legged creatures and our best friends. They can also be holy beings when properly trained.

My dear friend, Danny Siegel, is a long time supporter of the Israel Guide Dog program. He's been talking about Mitzvah Dogs for years. He also writes about Mitzvah horses, Mitzvah birds, Mitzvah monkeys and even Mitzvah fish.

As a matter fact, he believes that almost anything can become a "Mitzvah" simply by prefacing the word with the term "Mitzvah" and placing a hyphen between it and the following word. You'd be surprised at how many things can become an instrument of holiness and goodness in the world if it is used in the right way. A dog is just a dog. But when the dog leads and protects the life of someone who is vision impaired then it becomes a holy dog, a Mitzvah-dog. A horse is nothing more than a large animal but when it's used to rehabilitate someone who has suffered from a severe accident or who is born with cerebral palsy, then that ordinary horse become even more special than Sea Biscuit.

Stop and think about it for a moment. Here is a challenge for you. Look around your own home. Pick out something, even the most unlikely of objects. And then consider how you could use it to perform a Mitzvah, to lighten someone else's burden, to repair something that is wrong, to make the world a better place. Almost anything can become an object of goodness. The most insignificant of objects can become holy when we share them with others.

Last summer I carried a suitcase full of Mitzvah-tee shirts to Israel with me. Many of you donated them to "A Package from Home," an organization which provides care packages to Hayalim Bodidim, soldiers who do not have family in Israel and who do not have a support system to care for them. A tee shirt may seem like an insignificant thing, but if you're working hard and you don't have a change of shirts on a hot day then you can't imagine how precious or holy it really is. Even more important there is something nice about knowing that someone sent it to you along with other goodies.

The second of today's two Torah portions, Parshat Kedoshim, begins with the command, Kedoshim Tihiyu, "You shall be holy because I the Lord your God am Holy." Our Torah Portion never defines this word for us - it leaves that to mystics and theologians. But it does tell us exactly what this expression means. In a sense the entire Parshah is an answer to the question, "How does one do Holy?"

For Jews, holiness is not an adjective - it's a verb. It's defined by a multitude of small daily actions which bring us into the world and connect us to the people around us. Holiness is revering our parents. Holiness is observing the Shabbat. Holiness is rebuking and correcting someone when we know they are going off on the wrong path. Holiness is not speaking gossip. Holiness is caring for the needy, the stranger or the elderly. Holiness is loving your neighbor as yourself.

In other words, holiness is the hyphen that allows us to find the inner connection that ties us to our community, to our neighbors, and even to the stranger. When we find that hyphen we can also find God. Mitzvot are those actions which allow us to create the hyphen. Holiness is not about fleeing from the world but by being a part of it.

This morning it has been our pleasure to have Mr. Norman Leventhal from the Israel Guide Dogs as our guest. And we have to thank Steven and Barbara Heller have brought this holy work to our attention. Mr. Leventhal supports an organization that literally saves lives, and provides companionship for someone isolated by darkness.

Quite literally it is the fulfillment of the commandment in this week's Torah portion: Lifnei eevayr lo titen michshol: "Do not place a stumbling block before the blind." This verse can have many different meanings but on the simplest, the most fundamental level, it means making sure that the blind can navigate there way through the world. A Mitzvah dog becomes the instrument for fulfilling this commandment. What can be more basic than that?

So you don't even have to wait until you get home to take the test: think about your self. Hidden within each and every one of us is the unique ability to translate ordinary talent or skill into something holy. In this way we can become Mitzvah heroes. What special talent do you have to share with others?

How can you add a hyphen to your name?

Click above for link to the
Israeli Guide Dog Center for the Blind

"All it takes to study Torah is an open heart, a curious mind
and a desire to grow a Jewish soul."

		Beth Shalom Oceanside Jewish Center

Rabbi Mark Greenspan Email Me at rabbi@oceansidejc.org		Kedoshim Tehiyu: How We Create (and Become) Holy Dogs and Mitzvah Heroes Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim May 1, 2004 / 10 Iyyar 5764 By Rabbi Mark B Greenspan I hope when you leave shul this morning you'll go home and tell all your family and friends that OJC has gone to the dogs! Dogs after all are not just four legged creatures and our best friends. They can also be holy beings when properly trained. My dear friend, Danny Siegel, is a long time supporter of the Israel Guide Dog program. He's been talking about Mitzvah Dogs for years. He also writes about Mitzvah horses, Mitzvah birds, Mitzvah monkeys and even Mitzvah fish. As a matter fact, he believes that almost anything can become a "Mitzvah" simply by prefacing the word with the term "Mitzvah" and placing a hyphen between it and the following word. You'd be surprised at how many things can become an instrument of holiness and goodness in the world if it is used in the right way. A dog is just a dog. But when the dog leads and protects the life of someone who is vision impaired then it becomes a holy dog, a Mitzvah-dog. A horse is nothing more than a large animal but when it's used to rehabilitate someone who has suffered from a severe accident or who is born with cerebral palsy, then that ordinary horse become even more special than Sea Biscuit. Stop and think about it for a moment. Here is a challenge for you. Look around your own home. Pick out something, even the most unlikely of objects. And then consider how you could use it to perform a Mitzvah, to lighten someone else's burden, to repair something that is wrong, to make the world a better place. Almost anything can become an object of goodness. The most insignificant of objects can become holy when we share them with others. Last summer I carried a suitcase full of Mitzvah-tee shirts to Israel with me. Many of you donated them to "A Package from Home," an organization which provides care packages to Hayalim Bodidim, soldiers who do not have family in Israel and who do not have a support system to care for them. A tee shirt may seem like an insignificant thing, but if you're working hard and you don't have a change of shirts on a hot day then you can't imagine how precious or holy it really is. Even more important there is something nice about knowing that someone sent it to you along with other goodies. The second of today's two Torah portions, Parshat Kedoshim, begins with the command, Kedoshim Tihiyu, "You shall be holy because I the Lord your God am Holy." Our Torah Portion never defines this word for us - it leaves that to mystics and theologians. But it does tell us exactly what this expression means. In a sense the entire Parshah is an answer to the question, "How does one do Holy?" For Jews, holiness is not an adjective - it's a verb. It's defined by a multitude of small daily actions which bring us into the world and connect us to the people around us. Holiness is revering our parents. Holiness is observing the Shabbat. Holiness is rebuking and correcting someone when we know they are going off on the wrong path. Holiness is not speaking gossip. Holiness is caring for the needy, the stranger or the elderly. Holiness is loving your neighbor as yourself. In other words, holiness is the hyphen that allows us to find the inner connection that ties us to our community, to our neighbors, and even to the stranger. When we find that hyphen we can also find God. Mitzvot are those actions which allow us to create the hyphen. Holiness is not about fleeing from the world but by being a part of it. This morning it has been our pleasure to have Mr. Norman Leventhal from the Israel Guide Dogs as our guest. And we have to thank Steven and Barbara Heller have brought this holy work to our attention. Mr. Leventhal supports an organization that literally saves lives, and provides companionship for someone isolated by darkness. Quite literally it is the fulfillment of the commandment in this week's Torah portion: Lifnei eevayr lo titen michshol: "Do not place a stumbling block before the blind." This verse can have many different meanings but on the simplest, the most fundamental level, it means making sure that the blind can navigate there way through the world. A Mitzvah dog becomes the instrument for fulfilling this commandment. What can be more basic than that? So you don't even have to wait until you get home to take the test: think about your self. Hidden within each and every one of us is the unique ability to translate ordinary talent or skill into something holy. In this way we can become Mitzvah heroes. What special talent do you have to share with others? How can you add a hyphen to your name? Click above for link to the Israeli Guide Dog Center for the Blind "All it takes to study Torah is an open heart, a curious mind and a desire to grow a Jewish soul."

Kedoshim Tehiyu: How We Create (and Become) Holy Dogs and Mitzvah Heroes Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim May 1, 2004 / 10 Iyyar 5764 By Rabbi Mark B Greenspan

Kedoshim Tehiyu:
How We Create (and Become) Holy Dogs and Mitzvah Heroes

Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim
May 1, 2004 / 10 Iyyar 5764
By Rabbi Mark B Greenspan