Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, and say to them, “You shall be holy: for I the Lord your G-d am holy.” (Vayikra 19:2)

Why was it necessary to gather klal Yisrael together just to hear this statement? What makes this parsha so important that it had to be said specifically to the entire congregation of Yisrael?

Once assembled, the first mitzvah they received was “You shall be holy.” Normally, when someone hears that he should be holy, he might imagine running off to a forest, building himself a simple hut, and living as a recluse dedicated entirely to the service of Hashem. After all, it seems far too difficult to remain holy while surrounded by the distractions of living with other people. Isolation, one might think, is the only path to becoming a truly holy person.

However, the Torah is teaching us here something totally different. To become holy, one does not need to be isolated. On the contrary, holiness is meant to be achieved as part of an entire society. This is why the Torah wanted this mitzvah to be delivered to the entire Bnei Yisrael at once: because they are meant to grow in their holiness together.

It is customary for many people, before performing a mitzvah, to say “hineni muchan…” (behold I am prepared and ready…). In that standard text, we explicitly state that the mitzvah is being done as part of klal Yisrael. What is the meaning behind this phrase?

When a person performs a mitzvah, he obviously elevates himself. But when he connects that mitzvah to the entire Klal Yisrael, the entire nation is elevated along with him. (See Tanya Part one chapter 41). We therefore ask that all of klal Yisrael be connected and elevated through the mitzvah that is about to be performed. This idea, that the actions of an individual can affect other people in klal Yisrael is found in the gemora as well. The gemora (Berachot 17b) states that the entire world is sustained in the merit of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, and that Rabbi Chanina is satisfied with a kav (measure) of carobs from one Shabbos eve to the next. Here we see how one person’s being sparing in what he eats, brings abundant blessings to many others.

This idea of doing something together with a group doesn’t require their physical presence or active participation. It means that we connect our actions to the group, including them in holiness derived from the mitzvah.

This is an important concept in the service of Hashem – one which brings us all together. When everyone in klal Yisrael is aware that they are doing something for all of klal Yisrael, we can reach the ultimate fulfillment of “love your neighbor as yourself.” This trait of togetherness of Klal Yisrael is what Hashem desires. This was seen clearly at the foot of Har Sinai, where we were there as “one man with one heart.” (k’ish echad belev echad). This should continue to be the way that we perform mitzvos today. This is why many siddurim write that one should accept upon oneself the mitzvah of “love thy neighbor as yourself” before davening daily.

As we approach the day of Shavous, it is important that we not only treat our neighbors properly, but that we include them in our mitzvos as well.

People often ask, “What can religious people do to reach out to distant or unaffiliated Jews?” There are many answers, but Rav Chaim Volozhiner (1749-1821) explained that if students in Volozhin learn Torah lishmah, then even a Jew living in Paris will not convert to Christianity. When we perform mitzvos with the intention of uplifting and positively influencing the people around us, that intention itself creates a powerful ripple effect. It draws others closer to Hashem, and in turn, the mitzvos they perform will elevate us as well.