Jewish%20thought for Yevamot 39:15

איסור קדושה שניות מדברי סופרים ואמאי קרי ליה איסור קדוש' אמר אביי כל המקיים דברי חכמים נקרא קדוש א"ל רבא וכל שאינו מקיים דברי חכמים קדוש הוא דלא מיקרי רשע נמי לא מיקרי אלא אמר רבא קדש עצמך במותר לך:

prohibited by virtue of holiness [refers to] the secondary degrees of relationship forbidden by the rulings of the scribes. And why are these designated, prohibited by virtue of holiness? — Abaye replied: Because whosoever acts in accordance with the rulings of the Rabbis is called a holy man. Said Raba to him: Then he who does not act in accordance with the rulings of the Rabbis is not called a holy man; nor is he called a wicked man either?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely, a person disobeying the Rabbis is indeed a wicked man! ');">³⁶</span> — No, said Raba: 'Sanctify yourself by that which is permitted to you'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., marriages forbidden by the rulings of the scribes are designated as 'prohibited by virtue of holiness' because these restrictions are designed to promote self-sanctification and as a barrier and a safeguard against marriage with those who are Pentateuchally forbidden. ');">³⁷</span> A WIDOW TO A HIGH PRIEST. An unqualified ruling is laid down making no distinction between a nissu'in<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">³⁸</span>

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