73:
168:), chosen by God to fulfill His commandments. Holiness, in this sense, is achieved through moral behavior, Torah study, and the performance of mitzvot (commandments). The Jewish people are tasked with being a "light unto the nations," reflecting their duty to live according to the ethical and ritual guidelines set forth in the Torah.
252:
In personal life, this concept manifests through ethical and ritual observance. For example, Jewish law requires individuals to sanctify themselves in what is permissible, meaning that even ordinary activities like eating or engaging in business should be infused with a sense of purpose and alignment
265:
is tied to moral behavior. Holiness is not only about fulfilling ritual commandments but also about living an ethical life, treating others with dignity, and striving for justice. This is particularly evident in the
Holiness Code (Leviticus 19), which links holiness with ethical commandments such as
244:
represents the idea of separation—being set apart from what is ordinary or profane. However, it also signifies elevation, as something is made holy when it is dedicated to a higher purpose. This is evident in the sanctification of objects used for mitzvot (commandments), such as
198:
are considered the holiest locations. The
Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) were physical spaces designated for divine service, and the holiness of these places was so profound that access was restricted to certain times and individuals, such as the
278:
in various ways. For some, holiness is primarily about creating boundaries that separate the sacred from the profane. For others, it is more about a continuous process of spiritual growth, where one elevates oneself and the world through good deeds and mitzvot.
89:
is ק.ד.ש., which means "to be set apart" or "to be holy." In the Torah, holiness is primarily associated with God and His commandments, but it is also a status that human beings and objects can attain through dedication and sanctification. The concept of
229:) are considered holy times, each imbued with its own particular form of sanctity. These sacred times are opportunities for individuals and the community to connect more deeply with God and reflect on the spiritual dimensions of life.
302:
Some modern thinkers emphasize the need for a return to the sacred, arguing that in an increasingly secular world, the concept of holiness remains a vital spiritual goal. Others focus on the ethical dimensions of
110:
19:2 commands the Jewish people to "be holy" because God
Himself is holy, establishing a central tenet of Judaism: that humans can strive for holiness by aligning their actions with divine will. The
45:), meaning "holiness" or "sanctity," is a central concept in Jewish thought, representing the idea of separation, elevation, and dedication to God. Rooted in the Hebrew word
290:
is not inherent in objects or people but is achieved through the performance of mitzvot. He taught that holiness is a potential that must be actualized through actions.
221:
Time itself can be sanctified. Shabbat is referred to as a holy day, a day of rest that is set apart from the regular workweek. Similarly, the
106:, the concept of holiness is first introduced in relation to God, who is described as holy and completely distinct from the physical world.
61:
signifies a state of being that is spiritually elevated, distinct from the mundane, and aligned with the divine. In Jewish tradition,
94:
is linked to the idea of being separate from the profane and mundane, elevating the physical world toward a higher, spiritual plane.
621:
307:, particularly in areas like social justice and environmental stewardship, where the sanctity of life and creation is emphasized.
149:
Judaism emphasizes that not only God, but also people, places, and times can be imbued with holiness. These different aspects of
616:
129:, which is described as a day of holiness, set apart from the rest of the week. Sacred places, such as the
561:
283:
511:
360:
586:
536:
410:
385:
486:
20:
153:
are interrelated, and each represents a unique way in which holiness manifests in the world.
222:
50:
38:
134:
610:
298:
Contemporary Jewish thought continues to grapple with the meaning and application of
66:
435:
335:
195:
72:
204:
249:
or a Torah scroll, which become holy by virtue of their use in divine service.
125:
The holiness of time is also a biblical concept, most notably in relation to
191:
107:
246:
460:
316:
130:
126:
119:
28:
24:
266:
honesty in business, respect for others, and care for the vulnerable.
261:
In addition to the ritual aspects of holiness, Judaism stresses that
183:
200:
111:
103:
182:
Certain places are considered holier than others. The land of
76:
A Jew lifting a Torah scroll, which is imbued with kedusha
274:
Different Jewish thinkers have approached the concept of
65:
encompasses the holiness of God, the sanctity of the
164:The Jewish people are considered a holy nation (
137:(Temple), are described as imbued with divine
8:
562:"What Is the Meaning of Kadosh and Kedusha?"
361:"What Is the Meaning of Kadosh and Kedusha?"
71:
327:
270:Theological Interpretations of Kedusha
57:), which means "holy" or "set apart,"
7:
69:, sacred places, time, and actions.
587:"The Concept of Kedusha (Sanctity)"
537:"The Concept of Kedusha (Sanctity)"
411:"The Concept of Kedusha (Sanctity)"
236:Kedusha as Separation and Elevation
145:Kedusha in People, Places, and Time
54:
42:
14:
386:"What is Holiness in the Bible?"
141:, where God's presence resides.
1:
16:Key concept in Jewish thought
286:, for instance, argued that
186:is often referred to as the
487:"What is Kedushah, Anyway?"
133:(Tabernacle) and later the
638:
18:
512:"Meditations on Kedushah"
294:Kedusha in Modern Thought
622:Hebrew words and phrases
257:Kedusha and Moral Purity
81:Etymology and Definition
19:Not to be confused with
461:"Kedusha and Holiness"
77:
485:Rabbi Yitzchak Blau.
284:Samson Raphael Hirsch
75:
336:"Kedushah: Glossary"
85:The Hebrew root for
516:Hebrew 4 Christians
436:"Kedusha: Glossary"
118:with observance of
203:(priests) and the
122:and moral purity.
78:
253:with God's will.
175:Kedusha of Places
157:Kedusha of People
114:often associates
21:Kedushah (prayer)
629:
602:
601:
599:
597:
583:
577:
576:
574:
572:
558:
552:
551:
549:
547:
533:
527:
526:
524:
522:
508:
502:
501:
499:
497:
482:
476:
475:
473:
471:
457:
451:
450:
448:
446:
432:
426:
425:
423:
421:
407:
401:
400:
398:
396:
382:
376:
375:
373:
371:
357:
351:
350:
348:
346:
332:
98:Biblical Origins
56:
44:
637:
636:
632:
631:
630:
628:
627:
626:
617:Jewish theology
607:
606:
605:
595:
593:
585:
584:
580:
570:
568:
560:
559:
555:
545:
543:
535:
534:
530:
520:
518:
510:
509:
505:
495:
493:
484:
483:
479:
469:
467:
459:
458:
454:
444:
442:
434:
433:
429:
419:
417:
409:
408:
404:
394:
392:
384:
383:
379:
369:
367:
359:
358:
354:
344:
342:
334:
333:
329:
325:
313:
296:
272:
259:
238:
223:Jewish holidays
214:Kedusha of Time
190:and within it,
147:
100:
83:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
635:
633:
625:
624:
619:
609:
608:
604:
603:
578:
553:
528:
503:
477:
452:
440:Orthodox Union
427:
402:
377:
352:
340:Orthodox Union
326:
324:
321:
320:
319:
312:
309:
295:
292:
271:
268:
258:
255:
237:
234:
233:
232:
231:
230:
216:
215:
211:
210:
209:
208:
207:(High Priest).
177:
176:
172:
171:
170:
169:
159:
158:
146:
143:
135:Beit HaMikdash
99:
96:
82:
79:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
634:
623:
620:
618:
615:
614:
612:
596:September 16,
592:
588:
582:
579:
571:September 16,
567:
563:
557:
554:
546:September 16,
542:
538:
532:
529:
521:September 16,
517:
513:
507:
504:
496:September 16,
492:
491:Torah Musings
488:
481:
478:
470:September 16,
466:
462:
456:
453:
445:September 16,
441:
437:
431:
428:
420:September 16,
416:
412:
406:
403:
395:September 16,
391:
387:
381:
378:
370:September 16,
366:
362:
356:
353:
345:September 16,
341:
337:
331:
328:
322:
318:
315:
314:
310:
308:
306:
301:
293:
291:
289:
285:
280:
277:
269:
267:
264:
256:
254:
250:
248:
243:
240:At its core,
235:
228:
224:
220:
219:
218:
217:
213:
212:
206:
202:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
180:
179:
178:
174:
173:
167:
163:
162:
161:
160:
156:
155:
154:
152:
144:
142:
140:
136:
132:
128:
123:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
97:
95:
93:
88:
80:
74:
70:
68:
67:Jewish people
64:
60:
52:
48:
40:
36:
30:
26:
22:
594:. Retrieved
591:TheTorah.com
590:
581:
569:. Retrieved
565:
556:
544:. Retrieved
541:TheTorah.com
540:
531:
519:. Retrieved
515:
506:
494:. Retrieved
490:
480:
468:. Retrieved
464:
455:
443:. Retrieved
439:
430:
418:. Retrieved
415:TheTorah.com
414:
405:
393:. Retrieved
389:
380:
368:. Retrieved
364:
355:
343:. Retrieved
339:
330:
304:
299:
297:
287:
281:
275:
273:
262:
260:
251:
241:
239:
226:
196:Temple Mount
187:
165:
150:
148:
138:
124:
120:commandments
115:
101:
91:
86:
84:
62:
58:
46:
34:
33:
566:Jewish Link
365:Jewish Link
205:Kohen Gadol
611:Categories
390:Aleph Beta
323:References
188:Holy Land,
192:Jerusalem
166:am kadosh
108:Leviticus
465:TJP News
311:See also
300:Kedusha.
247:tefillin
194:and the
317:Shabbat
305:Kedusha
288:Kedusha
276:Kedusha
263:Kedusha
242:Kedusha
201:Kohanim
151:Kedusha
139:Kedusha
131:Mishkan
127:Shabbat
116:Kedusha
102:In the
92:Kedusha
87:Kedusha
63:Kedusha
59:Kedusha
35:Kedusha
29:Kaddish
25:Kiddush
282:Rabbi
227:moedim
184:Israel
51:Hebrew
47:kadosh
39:Hebrew
112:Torah
104:Bible
43:קדושה
27:, or
598:2024
573:2024
548:2024
523:2024
498:2024
472:2024
447:2024
422:2024
397:2024
372:2024
347:2024
55:קדוש
613::
589:.
564:.
539:.
514:.
489:.
463:.
438:.
413:.
388:.
363:.
338:.
53::
41::
23:,
600:.
575:.
550:.
525:.
500:.
474:.
449:.
424:.
399:.
374:.
349:.
225:(
49:(
37:(
31:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
