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

Double Parsha: Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

Day 6 (Part 1): Leviticus 19:33-37

(Leviticus 19:33)

Just as Jews are to show reverence to the elderly out of fear and reverence for Hashem, so Jews are not to wrong nor harm the ger (righteous convert) when he or she resides among us. Instead, Jews are to treat the ger as if he or she was/is a citizen of the nation of Israel AND the ger should be loved as a Jew loves themselves BECAUSE we Jews were ger in Egypt AND BECAUSE Hashem is the LORD our God.

Here, ger is often translated to “stranger” but really it refers to a person who converted to Judaism; a person who takes the yoke of Heaven and willingly follows Torah.

Hashem commands respect and love to these individuals as fellow native born Jews because in Hashem’s eyes, that is how He sees them. Too, He is…

Day 6 (Part 2): Leviticus 20:1-7

(Leviticus 20:1-3)

Connecting with the unjust practices of Pagan lands, Hashem then commands Jews not to give our children to Molech. Anyone who gives his or her child to Molech

1. Shall be put to death by stoning.

2. Hashem will set His face against the person.

3. The person will be cut off.

Leviticus 19:33-20:7

וְכִֽי־יָג֧וּר אִתְּךָ֛ גֵּ֖ר בְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם לֹ֥א תוֹנ֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ׃

33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong.

כְּאֶזְרָ֣ח מִכֶּם֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם הַגֵּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֗ם וְאָהַבְתָּ֥ לוֹ֙ כָּמ֔וֹךָ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

לֹא־תַעֲשׂ֥וּ עָ֖וֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּמִּדָּ֕ה בַּמִּשְׁקָ֖ל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָֽה׃