Еврейская мысль к Вайикра 20:7

Pay attention and contemplate that all the mitzvot that are fundamental or dependent on a specific matter or are mentioned or received traditions are positive or negative commandments explicitly stated or derived from their roots. Their secret is in the negative commandment, as it is written: "The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath" (Exodus 31:16). Sabbath observance is not an action but rather refraining from action and resting from it. As it is written: "And He rested on the seventh day from all His work" (Genesis 2:2), meaning to prepare before the Sabbath so that no work is done on that day. Similarly, it is written: "You shall afflict your souls" (Leviticus 16:29), and the meaning is to not indulge in eating and drinking, for affliction transforms pleasure. And likewise, it is written: "And you shall sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy" (Leviticus 20:7), meaning do not defile your souls by consuming anything abhorrent and corrupt in its origins. And the Nazirite, who shall not drink wine, is deemed holy.

They furthermore tend to ennoble thy inner character that it become pure and free of all that could drag thee down from the high pinnacle of thy holy mission. They bid thee put aside pride and desire of sensual pleasure, to respond sympathetically to the sorrow or joy of all beings, and to embrace them all in thy love as children of thy God. These injunctions are but the applications of the principles demonstrated as true in the revelations given in the actions, in the mighty deeds, of God. His commandments are but the expressions of these principles; revealed as concepts, not as mere incomprehensible behests; whosoever desires truth will accept them.

Strive ever to draw nearer to God, to be more closely united to Him in love and piety, more devoted and faithful to thy sacred mission on earth. Strive also to make the earth a truly human habitation, its creatures truly human possessions, in order that, in addition to your internal resources you may acquire also external wealth as means for carrying out your mission of blessing, and in order to be able independently to establish a house, as a temple in which shall be reared young scions of Adam's race as ideal human beings, ideal Israelites. For such purpose, to grace such a house, take a wife and bring her into your home. Next follows the first task of your blessed mission of love, the first and the highest; to be all in all to helpless human creatures without claim or demand upon you; even to sacrifice your own welfare in order that they shall be able to attain to both earthly well-being and spiritual ideal; that your child may become man-Israel.