The Sanctity of Israel: Where the Houses of Soloveitchik and Kook Meet

The moment God offers you His divine word and you ask "what's written in it?" you are rejecting the idea of God. Accepting Torah is accepting God.

The halacha is that if one accepts upon him/herself to do something that is undefined (e.g. to do whatever someone tells them to do), it's not legally binding. The Beit HaLevi asks, how can נעשה ונשמע be legally binding? The only exception is when a person sells himself as a slave he is obligated to do whatever the master says.

Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik distinguishes between קדושת דמים (which is transferable) and קדושת הגוף. Kedushat HaGuf, which all members of the Jewish people possess can never be removed.

Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook similarly says there are two levels of sanctity - being God's treasure (סגולה) and choosing Torah and Mitzvot (בחירה).

Delivered at the OU Israel Center, January 22, 2019 (16 Shevat 5779)