Are We Really ALL Holy?

“Ki kol ha-eidah kulam kedoshim u-v’tocham Hashem – For the entire assembly is holy and God dwells within them.” (Bamidbar 16:3)

This statement is valid.  Every Jew is holy.  Yet, when Korach makes the claim, it is a rebellion against Moshe’s leadership.  What’s wrong with Korach making the claim?

I think that Korach’s statement was flat out wrong.  We may wish it were true that Jews are all holy, but Jews are not always holy.  We don’t always act in a way that reflects God being within us.  Take the arson attack this week against the church in the Galilee.  That is not an act of a holy people. 

Talk about not being holy.  Did you hear this statement?  One ultra-Orthodox member of Knesset said that the Women of the Wall, “are no less dangerous than the rioters who damaged the Christian site on the Sea of Galilee — not to draw a comparison… The rioters in both places are contemptible and are liable to cause hate crimes in Israel and in the world. All those who condemn, and rightfully so, hate crimes against Christians and understand that it may lead to bloodshed, must condemn the hate crime against the Jewish Haredim. Against the holy Torah scrolls at the Western Wall.” 

Really?!?  Are we really all holy when such actions or sentiments emerge from Bnei Yisrael?

I find myself thinking about a second statement that describes us all. We believe that all of humanity is created in the image of God.  100%.  But those words ring hollow when people don’t act in accordance with them.  I find myself thinking about that in light of the murder of 9 people in the church in South Carolina.

Korach just selfishly wanted to lead.  He felt that he was entitled to lead since everyone is holy.  He was flat out wrong.  Big bold pronouncements mean nothing without the actions that reflect such values.  I am glad that the Jewish community reacted to console the mourners in South Carolina and condemn the murderer.  You can see the letter of the Rabbinical Council of America here.  When I saw that come out, I asked the RCA leadership if there would be a condemnation of the arson in the Galilee, and one was released later that day.  

We aren’t all holy.  We need to STRIVE for holiness.  If all our actions reflect this lofty goal, we can hope to, please God, get there.