Beyond Silhouettes: Choosing People Over Labels
Rabbinic Thoughts, Drasha, Israel Rabbi Adrian Rabbinic Thoughts, Drasha, Israel Rabbi Adrian

Beyond Silhouettes: Choosing People Over Labels

There is a particular comfort in "we and them" because it tidies a complicated world. The holiness of a community is found in its ability to recognise the individual within the mass. This requires a refusal to see a "refugee" or "man" as a monolith, insisting instead on seeing the Tzelem Elohim [Divine reflection] in every face. Kedoshim tihyu [you shall be holy] is written in the future tense, reminding us that holiness is a direction we must keep moving toward. We do this by choosing to see the humanity of everyone, especially those who make us uncomfortable.

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