Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, 5786 - Even After Pain, There is Gain

Most weekends, we get just one Torah portion, but several times throughout the year, we actually read two of them back-to-back. That is, in fact, the case this Shabbat, where we combine the parshiot of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. Acharei Mot literally means “After the death(s),” and talks about laws and rituals given after two of Aaron’s sons are killed for angering God. Kedoshim means “holy,” and gives us a long series of mitzvot, commandments, that lead to sacred behavior. What if, however, we set aside the contextual meanings of these readings and just spent a minute looking at the titles in relation to one another: “After death – holiness.” In this case, I imagine “death” represents tragedy of all forms: illness, pain, suffering, accidents, and of course, actual death. These terrible calamities certainly don’t seem like opportunities for holiness, sanctification, or meaningful insights, do they?

Around 1,100 years ago, the Medieval Babylonian Jewish philosopher, Saadia Gaon, wrote about free will and suffering. He suggested that pain and anguish were actually to our benefit as human beings, because they afforded us opportunities to reexamine the status quo in our lives, let go of the illusion of control, reconnect with the Divine, and lift ourselves back up to celebrate life even in the face of hardship and tragedy. It is how we, as humans, rise from the ashes and bless life once again. Acharei Mot-Kedoshim - After death, holiness. When we are brought low, that is when we can begin to climb up out of the pit, striving for holiness and peace. In Judaism, we bless both the good and the bad that comes our way, because it is a stark reminder that nothing can be taken for granted and we must appreciate every moment and every joy we experience. Some of our greatest lessons and insights in life come at the hardest moments. So bless this day, friends, no matter what is going on; holiness and joy await on the other side.