Parshat KI Tavo

In the midst of the big rebuke that goes on in Parshat Ki Tavo, we find an interesting Pasuk: 
"יְקִימְךָ יְהוָֹה לוֹ לְעַם קָדוֹשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע-לָךְ כִּי תִשְׁמֹר אֶת-מִצְוֹת יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ בִּדְרָכָיו"
(Deuteronomy 28:9). "God will make you a holy nation just like he promised if you safeguard his Mitzvot and you walk in his ways." What is the phrase of "Walking in his ways" telling us that's not included in "safeguard his Mitzvot?" The Netziv comes along and offers a tremendous answer. The Netziv explains that it is a common misconception that the proper way to become holy is to fully disengage oneself from all worldly matters. One becomes holy by doing Mitzvot for God and God alone. Any contact with anyone else besides for God is unnecessary and damaging to one's holiness. This is the person that the Netziv is speaking to. What Moshe is really saying, says the Netziv, is that the way for one to become holy is to involve himself in all Mitzvot, whether they pertain to heavenly obligations or simply obligations to one's fellow man--Mitzvot ben adam l'chavero. Just like God, who involves himself in worldly things, so, too, we must do the same. Mitzvot ben adam l'chavero are not secondary to our obligations to God--they are part of our obligations to God.  In short, holiness in Judaism is not setting oneself above daily life and avoiding contact with others but rather living with people and acting towards them in the way the Torah prescribes. Go Netziv.