Speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them,

You shall be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.

“How can a human being attempt to strive for a level of holiness that is based on, or compared to, God’s holiness? We are material beings and live in a material world, in a world of material desires…

[We are required to emulate] God’s holiness not by disconnecting from this world, but to broadcast a message of holiness through every aspect of the life lived in this world.

…

Israel is enjoined not to withdraw from the life that the Living God empowers and bestows, but on the contrary, THIS life that emanates from God is to be cherished and enjoyed, and we give thanks for all the beauty of this world.

We are commanded to sanctify ourselves through life itself, in the very midst of this world, in the thick of it. And by doing so, we can draw down sanctity on ourselves from above.”