In the 1700s, Count Valentin Pototski (Potocki), a Polish nobleman, shocked his family and the Roman Catholic Church by converting to Judaism. He was known as Avraham ben Avraham, the Ger Tzedek (righteous convert). The Roman Catholic Church used all its power to force him to renounce his conversion to Judaism. He would not, so they sentenced him to be burned alive at the stake.
The Ger Tzedek had a close relationship with the Vilna Gaon. He was granted permission to speak with the Gaon before his execution. The Gaon told him he had bribed the guards for him to escape. However, Avraham asked the Vilna Gaon if halachically he could refuse this opportunity to escape death and thus sanctify Hashem’s name publicly—to be killed because he is a Jew. The Gaon told him he was permitted to refuse the escape. The Ger Tzedek asked, “What blessing shall I recite before being killed?” The Vilna Gaon told him to recite a blessing that’s said in the morning before korbanos (offerings): Mekadeish Es Shimcha BaRabbim—publicly sanctify Hashem’s name. Reb Alexander Ziskind, author of Yesod Veshoresh Ha’avodah, dressed up like a polish peasant so he could attend the execution to be able to answer amein to Count Pototski’s blessing. By becoming a Jew, and dying as a Jew, the Ger Tzedek reached such a level of holiness that after the Nazis destroyed the cemetery in which he was buried, his remains (ashes) were interred alongside the relocated grave of the Vilna Gaon in Vilna’s new Jewish cemetery!
Hashem instructs every Jew to be holy. Three times in Parshas Kedoshim, Hashem repeats the message that klal Yisrael is holy and must maintain a high standard of conduct. The Ramban says Hashem is instructing us to even go beyond the letter of the law. This is based on the pasuk that states, “Kedoshim tihiyu ki kadosh ani Hashem Elokeichem”—You shall be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. How is it possible to be holy like Hashem?
Rav Avraham Grodzinsky, the last mashgiach of the famed Slabodka Yeshiva, gives a penetrating explanation. We just experienced Pesach. Commonly, we relate to Yetzias Mitzrayim as a time of liberty from slavery, but there is a much deeper and transformational dimension to it. According to the Haggadah of Pesach, when the Torah says that Hashem took us out “b’mora gadol”—with great awesomeness—it refers to the revelation of Hashem to the Jewish people.
The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh says that this divine revelation was the instrument behind Makkas Bechoros (Death of the Firstborn), as stated in the Haggadah: Hashem took Bnei Yisrael out of Mitzrayim personally and “not through an angel, Seraph or messenger; rather through Hashem’s presence itself.” The firstborn were killed by Hashem revealing Himself. The awesome presence of Hashem was too much for the Egyptians to experience, and their souls flew out of their bodies. However, Hashem imbued within klal Yisrael a special holiness within their bodies, to experience closeness with Hashem without their souls departing.
This repeated itself for all Jews at the Splitting of the Sea, as is expressed in the words of Az Yashir: “Zeh Keili ve’anveihu”—this is my Hashem whom I will glorify. Rashi explains that each Jew was able to experience a Godly revelation. The spark of holiness Hashem put inside us was truly transformative.
This effect is enhanced by mitzvos. In Musaf on Shabbos we use the expression “Kadsheinu b’mitzvosecha”—make us holy with Your mitzvos. Each mitzvah we perform brings us closer to Hashem and develops that Godliness within us.
The unique element of Godliness inside each Jew is what attracts non-Jews to convert. True, everyone who follows the seven Noahide laws has a place in the World to Come. So why trade a much easier seven commandments for a daunting 613? The reason is clear: the convert recognizes that a Jew is qualitatively different. To have this kedushah—Godliness—inside of him is worth the effort.
Hashem gave the Jewish nation the greatest gift: a piece of Himself within each of us. That’s why we are held to a higher standard. The nations of the world look at the Jew as a living expression of Hashem in the world. We live on a higher plane, because Hashem is within us. This is what it means to be a Jew.
If being a Jew is worth dying for, then it most certainly is worth living as a Jew.
Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim is the associate rosh yeshiva of Passaic Torah Institute (PTI)/Yeshiva Ner Boruch, where he leads a multi-level Gemara-learning program. PTI has attracted adult Jews of all ages from all over northern New Jersey for its learning programs. Fees are not charged but any contributions are always welcome. Beyond PTI, Rabbi Bodenheim conducts a weekly beis midrash program with chavrusa learning in Livingston plus a monthly group in West Caldwell. Rabbi Bodenheim can be reached at [email protected]. For more info about PTI and its Torah classes, visit pti.shulcloud.com.
