Parsha Achrei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)

Day 3 (Part 2): Leviticus 18:1-22

(Leviticus 18:1-4)

In this portion, Hashem prohibits His people from following any of the laws or practices of the Egyptians, from whence He had just brought them. Hashem also prohibits Jews from following or practicing the laws or ways of the people in Canaan—the promised land of Genesis 15, to which Hashem was about to bring His people to settle.

Hashem’s reason: “I the LORD am your God.”

Thus, instead of following after the laws and rules of the Pagan nations, which lead to death, Hashem desires and commands His beloved Jewish people to only follow His laws, rules, and statutes. By keeping and observing Hashem’s Torah, rulings, and statutes the people and nation of Israel can and will live. These rules and laws are the wisdom of Hashem. They were the first thing created in the universe. Thus, by the wisdom of Hashem,…

Double Parsha: Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

Day 3 (Part 1): Leviticus 17:8-16

(Leviticus 17:8-9)

The prohibition against offering sacrifices anywhere that is outside the designated area in the Tent of Meeting complex (and later, the Temple) is repeated. Hashem declares that anyone who

1. offers a sacrifice outside the designated area AND/OR

2. Does not bring the offering to Tent of Meeting (or later, the Temple) will be cut off from the house of Israel and the Jewish people.

Double Parsha: Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

Day 4 (Part 1): Leviticus 18:22-30

(Leviticus 18:22-23)

Today’s portion opens with additional forms of forbidden relations set forth by Hashem to His holy people, the Jews.

The first two forbidden relations were mentioned together at the end of day 3’s study. These relations include the prohibition against male homosexual relations and the prohibition against having sexual relations with animals.

The prohibition against homosexual relations is the prohibition against the Pegan practices that led to the destruction of towns and cities such as Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). If Hashem’s Jewish people practice such relations, He later warns that He will destroy Zion in like manner as He did Sodom—we see an example in miniature among the tribe of Benjamin in Judges 20-21.

Leviticus 17:8-18:21

וַאֲלֵהֶ֣ם תֹּאמַ֔ר אִ֥ישׁ אִישׁ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִן־הַגֵּ֖ר אֲשֶׁר־יָג֣וּר בְּתוֹכָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲלֶ֥ה עֹלָ֖ה אוֹ־זָֽבַח׃

8 And thou shalt say unto them: Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that offereth a burnt-offering or sacrifice,

וְאֶל־פֶּ֜תַח אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ לֹ֣א יְבִיאֶ֔נּוּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֹת֖וֹ לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְנִכְרַ֛ת הָאִ֥ישׁ הַה֖וּא מֵעַמָּֽיו׃

9 and bringeth it not unto the door of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice it unto the LORD, even that man shall be cut off from his people.

וְאִ֨ישׁ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּמִן־הַגֵּר֙ הַגָּ֣ר בְּתוֹכָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאכַ֖ל כׇּל־דָּ֑ם וְנָתַתִּ֣י פָנַ֗י בַּנֶּ֙פֶשׁ֙ הָאֹכֶ֣לֶת אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י אֹתָ֖הּ מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽהּ׃

Leviticus 18:22-19:14

וְאֶ֨ת־זָכָ֔ר לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י אִשָּׁ֑ה תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה הִֽוא׃

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.

וּבְכׇל־בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹא־תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכׇבְתְּךָ֖ לְטׇמְאָה־בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹֽא־תַעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

23 And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto; it is perversion.

אַל־תִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בְּכׇל־אֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֤י בְכׇל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ נִטְמְא֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם׃