We conclude the morning Tachanun prayers with a beautiful melody and the words “Protect the Holy People … Israel.”
Does the text indeed indicate that there is something inherently “Holy” about Jews? According to many rabbis the sin of Korach and his fellow conspirators is that they considered themselves inherently “holy” and therefore they merited recognition and reward and status without further action on their part. I believe that the Jewish approach is the opposite – we understand that the search for Holiness is incremental and ongoing and requires our full attention and energies.
Book of Proverbs states: “Fortunate is the person who is ever fearful”. Fearful of what? Of sinning. And I add – of acting inappropriately, of causing pain and suffering or insult in word or deed to any person, to the world or to themselves! Such a person considers the consequences of their actions and realizes that every moment is filled with the potential for bringing blessings to the world and requires constant vigilance. Holiness is attached to the deed and the spirit with which it is enacted; no one is granted the permanent title of being “Holy”. Our lives are ever challenging and ever fluid; our goal is to behave in such a way that the deeds we perform are experienced as Righteous and Holy and that they contribute to Tikun Olam, the Betterment of the World.
