Parshat Kedoshim lists many laws for us to know how one needs to act to be considered holy. One recurring theme between many of the laws is how to treat other people. We are supposed to treat others with respect and peacefulness even if they are a stranger.

During this period now of Sefirat HaOmer (counting from Pesach to Shavuot) people seem sad. People associate the Omer with no weddings, music, new clothes etc. However, the Omer used to be a time of joy and happiness, the complete opposite. The only reason that the beginning of the Omer (until 33 or 34, depending on Ashkenaz or Sephardic customs) is sad is because Rabbi Akiva’s students died in a plague because they did not respect one another. These great scholars who learned Torah all day did not understand the fundamental aspect of being holy.

What makes a person holy is following the mitzvot and even going above and beyond what the text says. In this week’s parsha, Kedoshim, it doesn’t say we need to respect one another, but it does say not to hate each other in our hearts. We need to infer how the mitzvah is trying to help us become holy. In order for us to merit next year having these days turned back into days of celebration, we must learn from Rabbi Akiva’s students’ mistakes and learn from this week’s parsha to make ourselves holier by being kinder to one another and following God’s commandments.

By Shira Sedek