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RETURNING TO NORMAL

All of us who are in this lockdown still remember what life was before the lockdown. We recognize that our current state is not normal and are convinced that life will certainly return to ‘normal’, hopefully soon. Imagine, if you will, that this current state remains the same for another 40 years, Heaven forbid! The children born into this new world will have no frame of reference to expect that things will return to ‘normal’ because this current state will be ‘normal’ to them.

In this week’s Parsha, Acharei Mos – Kedoshim, the Torah teaches us what ‘normal’ is. The Parsha of Kedoshim opens with HaShem’s instruction to Moshe to address the entire nation; the elders, the lay folk, the women and even the children. He tells Moshe to tell the entire nation that everyone in the nation is to strive to become kadosh, to become Holy, to achieve a level of Holiness similar to HaShem’s Holiness. HaShem adds a word of encouragement by telling them “because I, HaShem your G.D, am Kadosh.