Why God Chose Jacob and Made Israel Holy Like Himself

Another interpretation of "You shall be holy" (Leviticus 19:2): The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: Before I created My world, the ministering angels would praise Me through you and sanctify Me through you, and they would say, "Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting" (I Chronicles 16:36). When the first man, Adam, was created, the angels said: Master of the universe, is this the one in whose name we praise You? He said to them: [No,] this one is a thief, as it is said, "and you ate from the tree about which I commanded you" (Genesis 3:17). Noah came; they said to Him: Is this the one? He said to them: [No,] this one is a drunkard, as it is said, "and he drank from the wine and became drunk" (Genesis 9:21). Abraham came; they said to Him: Is this the one? He said to them: This one is a stranger. Isaac came; they said to Him: Is this the one? He said to them: This one loves My enemy, as it is said, "and Isaac loved Esau" (Genesis 25:28). When Jacob came, they said to Him: Is this the one? He said to them: Yes. And so it says, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob" (Genesis 35:10), and all Israel were called by his name. At that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, sanctified them by His name, as it is said, "Israel, in whom I will be glorified" (Isaiah 49:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Since you were sanctified to My name before I created My world, you were holy just as I am holy, as it is said, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." To what is the matter comparable? To a king who betrothed (sanctified) a woman. He said to her: Since you have been betrothed to my name, I am king and you are queen; just as it is my honor, so it is your honor, because you are my wife. So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Go, sanctify Israel, as it is said, "Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow" (Exodus 19:10). The Holy One, blessed be He, [came] and sanctified them, and said to them, "And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). Why? Because I am holy, and you too shall be holy just as you sanctified Me, as it is said, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: If you are worthy, you will be called a holy congregation; if you are not worthy, you will be called an evil congregation, "How long shall this evil congregation endure?" (Numbers 14:27).