Our tradition teaches us that G-d, blessed be He, dwells within us, within our communities, within our very lives. Deuteronomy, in chapter 23, verse 15, puts it this way: "For the L-rd your G-d walks in the midst of your camp… And let your camp be holy."
Now, what does that even mean?
The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, takes that verse and runs with it. "Make it holy," it urges. It's not enough to just be in a state of holiness; we have to actively create it.
And that's where things get interesting. The text gives some very specific examples of what not to do.
For example, it says "One should not recite the Shema near the washers' dippings." Okay, what are "washers' dippings?" Well, imagine a place where clothes were being cleaned, probably involving… less-than-pleasant water and who-knows-what kind of cleaning agents. Not exactly the most spiritually uplifting environment. The Shema, of course, is the central Jewish prayer, declaring the oneness of G-d. It’s the prayer we say when we wake and when we go to sleep. It’s a moment of connection.
So, you wouldn't want to recite that prayer – a prayer of utmost devotion and focus – in a place that's, shall we say, spiritually… compromised.
The Sifrei Devarim doesn't stop there. It goes on to say that one shouldn't enter a bathhouse or a tannery with scrolls or tefillin in hand. Tefillin, for those who might not know, are the small leather boxes containing scriptural passages that observant Jews wear on their arm and head during morning prayers. Again, bathhouses and tanneries weren’t exactly known for their pristine, spiritually-elevated atmosphere back in the day. Imagine the smells! The noise! The… everything!
The common thread here? Respect. Reverence. Creating a space that is conducive to holiness. It’s about recognizing that G-d is present, even – and perhaps especially – in the mundane.
But it's not just about avoiding unclean places. It's about actively creating an environment of holiness. It’s about being mindful of where we are, what we're doing, and how it all reflects on our relationship with the Divine. This isn't just about ancient laws and rituals. It's about how we approach our lives. Are we creating "holy space" in our interactions with others? In our homes? In our communities?
This teaching in Sifrei Devarim challenges us to be conscious of the atmosphere we cultivate, both internally and externally. It encourages us to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, to find the sacred in the seemingly profane. It's a reminder that holiness isn't just a destination, but a journey – one we embark on with every thought, word, and deed.