Yachol Kamoni: Being Like God

Parshas Kedoshim begins with the command, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). On this, the Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 24:9) comments “yachol kamoni,” which is commonly translated “can you be like Me?” Simply understood, the verse is teaching us that we should not equate our holiness with G-d’s holiness, that our abilities are by virtue of our connection to Hashem, and we should not assume that we can reach, or even comprehend, G-d’s intense purity and exaltedness. The Midrash thus continues “kedushasi lemaala mikedushaschem,” which is commonly translated “My holiness is higher than your holiness.”

Yet the Chassidic Masters read the Midrash differently. “Yachol kamoni” is understood not as a question – “can you be like Me” – but as a statement – “You can be like me.” Furthermore, “kedushasi lemaala mikedushaschem” is rendered not as “My holiness is higher than your holiness,” but rather “My holiness above is from your holiness.” The grammar and lack of punctuation in the Hebrew texts renders these variant readings possible.

This, of course, is not by chance, but rather it is in the nature of scripture to provide messages appropriate for various readers. For the haughty egotist, the Midrash warns that the holiness that G-d demands of him and grants to him is limited and should not lead him to pride. To the humble servant, the same phrase teaches that his potential is boundless and that G-d’s very honor and status in the creation are reliant on his deeds.

Indeed most of us require both of these messages at different times in our lives, and perhaps even different times of any given day. We need to be reminded of our insignificance at certain moments, and our infinte potential at others. Both of these are a function of our relationship with G-d – when we separate ourselves from Him and focus on our own being, we are nothing at all; when we join ourselves to Him and engage in His program, we are everything, we are ONE, and anything is possible.

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