By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

Springtime is known to be the season for school trips. Trips to parks and museums. Lag B’Omer trips and graduation trips. I think of my own school days, the memorable trips taken.

Before each school outing, a teacher would give us “the talk”. She would tell us that people would identify us as being part of Am Yisroel. We are on display. Our actions are being observed. How important it is for us to behave in a refined manner, to act in a way that makes a Kiddush HaShem. We are seen as HaShem’s emissaries, and how it is important to live up to that position.

This week, we read the double portion of Achrei Mos – Kedoshim. We often speak of the kedoshim, holy ones who perished al Kiddush HaShem, sanctifying the name of HaShem, in a world of hateful anti-Semitism.

There is yet another level of kedoshim. Each and every one of us has the opportunity to live al Kiddush HaShem. To conduct our lives in a way that brings honor and respect to HaShem’s name.

The parsha opens with HaShem instructing Moshe to speak to “Kol adas Bnei Yisroel”, the entire assembly of the Jewish nation. To relay the message of “Kedoshim tehiyu”, to be a holy people. (Vayikra 19:2) The mission statement of Am Yisroel.

We may think that being a kodosh, a holy individual is reserved for a select few. For those with high and lofty neshamos. For the learned and pious. The Torah teaches otherwise. The mandate of kedoshim tehiyu was proclaimed to kol adas Yisroel, the entire nation. Not just Moshe and Aaron. Not just the Kohanim, zekeinim (elders) or nesiim (princes). Everyone is included. Men, women and children. No one is too young or too old. Too learned or too simple. Too rich or too poor. We can all live our lives as kedoshim, sanctifying HaShem’s name wherever we go, whatever we do.

How is this possible? We say every day in our morning prayers, “Elokai, neshama sheh’nosatoh bee, tehora hee, HaShem, the soul that you have given me is pure. … Atah nefachta bee, You breathed it into me”. HaShem’s spirit is within each and every one of us. It enables us to live a life of sanctity. To reach the greatest heights of kedusha. HaShem gives us the potential, we just have to actualize it.

Kol adas Bnei Yisroel, the entire assembly of the Jewish nation. One is never too young. Esther Malka Goldschmidt relates a true-life story that touched her personally. She was working as a receptionist in an office in Lakewood. One day, a non-Jewish couple came in for an appointment. The wait to see the manager was long, and the woman started up a conversation with Esther Malka. She asked her if she lives in the neighborhood. When Esther Malka nodded yes, the woman continued.

The woman spoke of having grown up in Lakewood, living on Vine Street, right next to the Jewish girls’ school. Esther Malka got excited – that was her school, Bais Kaila. The woman continued and shared her memories. She told of sitting on her front porch steps as a young girl, and how she loved watching the Bais Kaila high schoolers walk by in their light blue shirts and navy skirts.

But the most lasting impression on her was how friendly the girls were. They would wave, say hello, and give her a big smile. She remembered one girl in particular, who would stop and talk to her. Ask how she was doing, and wish her a good day. Her name was Kaila. The woman smiled, I will always remember her – Kaila from the Kaila school. A memory so strong, so beautiful, that when the woman had a little girl, she named her Kaila.

The power of a smile. A wave. A friendly hello. It doesn’t take much. Just a few kind words, a nice gesture. My zeide, HaRav Avraham HaLevi Jungreis zt”l, would often say, “Ess kost nisht kein gelt” – it doesn’t cost any money. Small acts of kindness that mean so much.

Never too old. I think of my grandmother, Rebbetzin Miriam Jungreis a”h, known simply as Mama. Mama was full of life, never giving in to her aches and pains. She was always cooking and baking for others. My zeide founded a kiruv yeshiva. Twice a day, Mama made her way to Zeide’s yeshiva. She would be there when the busses arrived, to wish each child boker tov. At dismissal time, Mama would be there once again, giving each child a snack – always asking to hear a bracha. This was Mama’s daily routine until she was well into her eighties. Mama touched so many lives. Through her kindness, she brought so many to a Torah way of life. Kedoshim tehiyu, a mitzva given to an entire nation. Then and now.

Never too weak. Mama would collect gently used clothes and distribute them to the needy. A job Mama never gave up, even when she was frail and weak.

Rav Eliyahu Dessler zt”l (1892-1953) teaches that through acts of kindness and giving one can elevate themselves to a high level of kedusha. With repeated acts of chesed, one becomes a baal chesed, and an oheiv chesed. Rav Dessler emphasizes that achieving the level of a kodosh is an accessible, everyday calling expressed through small acts of kindness.

Living as a kodosh leaves an impression on those around us – but has an effect on us as well.

When we live our lives as kedoshim, holy people, we are the beneficiaries. We become better people. We learn honesty and integrity. Kindness and compassion. Love and understanding. Patience and tolerance. We elevate our very being. The cheilek Eloka mi’maal, the portion of HaShem from Above, within us shines out.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt’l