Fun Fact: This week's Torah portion has 51 Mitzvot. That's like a sixth of all 613 commandments.
So yesterday I was waiting in San Francisco for an order of Kosher products. It gets shipped up from LA on a highly unpredictable truck, so I had a chance to think about Mitzvahs and why we do them.
Well, I won't get into all 613 of them, but here's a general thought.
The name of the Torah portion is Kedoshim - You shall be holy. Not the miracle worker, guru kind of holy, but rather to conduct ourselves distinctively. Not to just fall in line with whatever is the popular thing among those around us. The Torah is a guidebook of how to march to a different beat.
Interestingly it's not just about prayer or Shabbat - the spiritual. There are many dozens of Mitzvot focused on honesty, integrity in business, morality, and decency - the physical. Being a Mensch. Indeed, Rabbi Akiva taught us that this week's commandment of "Love your fellow as yourself", is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary. (more on this next week)
Let us each do our part, being holy, living with honesty, integrity, respect, and discipline. Try being "holy" this week with one thing. When we each do our part, we raise the bar for society as a whole.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Dovid Bush