THE DUTY OF HOLINESS
I AM the Lord your God: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am holy.
LEVITICUS 11. 44.
IN rabbinical ethics, holiness is the highest ideal. The entire system of the Jewish law has the hallowing of life as its aim, to be reached through good works, through observance of the Sabbath and Holy-days, and through the sanctification of God’s name (Kiddush Hashem). Holiness became for rabbinical Judaism synonymous with purity of life, purity of action, and purity of thought; and under its influence personal purity in Judaism became the highest standard and maxim of ethics found in any religious system.
K. KOHLER,[79] 1904.
‘CLEANLINESS is next to Godliness.’—Carefulness leads to cleanliness; cleanliness to purity; purity to humility; humility to saintliness; saintliness to fear of sin; fear of sin to holiness; and holiness to immortality.
TALMUD.