“You shall be holy, because I, Hashem your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)
When the ancient mystics came to this passage, they were overjoyed. Why?
The literal translation of this verse is not an imperative, it’s not a commandment that we must strive to be holy. It is actually a statement – a promise that “you will be holy!” And because this verse was addressed to the entire assembly of the house of Israel, every single one (19:1) – it’s not a promise for a tiny elite group of exceptional people. It is a promise that one day, all of Israel will be holy (Isaiah 60:21). This is what brought so much joy to those wise and holy mystics.
