Today we count the 23rd day of the Omer with “Gevurah She Be Netzach” (Discipline in Endurance).
This week’s Parashah “Kedoshim”(Holy) is so connected with this combination of sefiros.
We learn from the pasuk “You should be Holy because I,G-d your G-d, am holy.” That the holiness of a person is connected with the holiness of G-d Himself. In this Parasha we are given the laws of human ethic and descent behavior, like: don’t steal, don’t swear falsely,don’t oppress your fellow, don’t withhold your employee’s wages, you shouldn’t put a stumbling block in front of a blind man, don’t be a gossiper and many many more. Maybe our nature has to struggle with some of them, it is not your fault. In reality this is the way you are wired, but it is your choice to “turn away from evil and do good.” (Psalms 34:16)
It takes much discipline, restraint and endurance to be able to overturn our nature. And even though the psalm suggests that the negative must come first by turning away from evil, one should nevertheless interpret the verse as follows: in order to turn away from evil, simply do good- and the evil will take care of itself.
H”S gave us this negative tendencies so we can have free will and gain merits for ourselves. When we behave in such a way we are being holy.
(Based on Sichas Shabbos Parashas Acharei-Kedoshim 5748)
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