Kedusha

A post I submitted to MJ way back when in '94 (MJ 12:92) - writing on my 386, no doubt!

No conversation ensued.

Perhaps here it might?

Kedusha

In honor of Lag Ba'Omer I thought I would post a question that I hope
will  lead to a new thread of conversation on MJ: What is Kedusha?

This is certainly a critical question for us, especially at this  time
of year, as at Mt. Sinai we were  charged  to  be  "Mamleches  Kohanim
v'Goy Kadosh", a "Nation of Priests, a Holy Nation", so  this  is  our
destiny - we better know what it is! Kedusha is a recurring  theme  in
the Torah and Chazal, and I wager to say that it is  the  pinnacle  of
Jewish aspiration and achievement.

Preliminary comments: In my line of work I speak a lot, and I like  to
speak on this topic. I find often that even Orthodox Jews take a  very
reductionist viewpoint on Kedusha, i.e., it is a status of  separation
and mission. Many audiences become uncomfortable when I  explain  that
in my understanding our status as  the  Chosen  People  imparts  us  a
uniquely elevated and special status, with more sacred neshamos and  a
vastly different  -  and  superior  -  role  versus  the  Gentiles  in
determining the destiny of the Universe. Indeed, many people  are  not
enthused when I invoke the Ramban and Reb Chaim Volozhiner to  explain
how a mitzvah impacts mystically on both the character and sanctity of
an individual, and, indeed that of the entire world.

I refrain for  now  from  proposing  my  own  expanded  definition  of
Kedusha. If this thread does develop I will be pleased, and  certainly
eager to discuss same. And, if it doesn't, why bore everybody  :-)  ?