Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrash (rabbinic commentary) on the Book of Leviticus, explores this very idea in a fascinating way. It starts with the seemingly simple phrase, "You shall be holy" (Leviticus 19:2). But what does holiness really mean?
The Rabbis delve into this, connecting it to Psalm 20:3, "May He send you help from the Sanctuary." How are these two connected? Rabbi Berekhya, quoting Rabbi Simon, tells a story, a slice of life from the ancient world.
Picture this: Abba Yosei of Tzaitur, just a regular villager, is sitting and learning Torah near a spring. Now, this isn’t just any spring. A spirit, a shed in Hebrew, dwells there. And this spirit strikes up a conversation with Abba Yosei!
The spirit tells him, "I've been living here for years. You and your family come and go, day and night, and you’ve never been harmed. But listen closely, a malevolent spirit, a truly evil one, is trying to move in and it will harm people."
Can you imagine the fear Abba Yosei must have felt? "What should we do?" he asks the spirit.
The spirit gives him specific instructions: "Go and warn everyone in town. Tell them to grab their tools – hoes, spades, rakes – anything made of iron. At daybreak, they need to watch the water. When they see a whirlpool forming, they must strike the water with their iron tools, shouting, 'Ours is victorious!' And they must not stop until they see congealed blood on the surface."
So Abba Yosei, good man that he is, does exactly that. He warns the townspeople, they follow the spirit's instructions, and presumably, the evil spirit is vanquished. Talk about a community effort!
Now, what's the connection to holiness and help from the Sanctuary? The Midrash asks a powerful question, an a fortiori argument (kal v’chomer in Hebrew): If even spirits, beings not inherently in need of assistance, require help to overcome evil, how much more so do we, human beings, who were created with inherent limitations and a deep need for divine support, need help from the Sanctuary? The spirit, with its supernatural abilities, still needed the community's help, their iron tools, their unified voices. We, on the other hand, often feel helpless in the face of challenges, both internal and external.
Therefore, the Midrash concludes, “May He send you help from the Sanctuary” isn't just a nice blessing; it's a fundamental recognition of our human condition. We need help. We need spiritual strength, divine assistance, and the support of our community to overcome the challenges in our lives. We need holiness, which isn't just about following rules, but about actively seeking connection to something greater than ourselves.
The story of Abba Yosei and the spirit reminds us that even the smallest act of community, even the simplest tool wielded with intention, can be a powerful force for good. And that, perhaps, is where true holiness begins: in recognizing our need for help, and in offering that help to others.