Kedoshim contains the two great love commands of the Torah. The first is, “Love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:18). Rabbi Akiva called this “the great principle of the Torah.” The second is no less challenging: “The stranger living among you must be treated as your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were strangers in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Lev….
…but it also burns. And we are the guardians of the flame. [1] Midrash Tanchuma (Buber), parshat Acharei Mot 7. [2] Leviticus Rabbah 20:9. [3] Midrash Tanchuma, ad loc. [4] Yalkut Shimoni, I:524. [5] MidrashTanchuma, ad loc. [6] Aggadah (Buber), Vayikra10. [7] Leviticus Rabbah 20:10. Why do you think Nadav and Avihu were punished so harshly? When is it…
…with the strength-in-depth they need to flourish in the long run. The classic instance of the principles articulated by Burns, Rees-Mogg and Collins is the transformation that occurred between Ki Tissa and Acharei Mot, between the first Yom Kippur and the second, between Moses’ heroic leadership and the quiet, understated priestly discipline of an annual day of repentance and atonement….
…but bishat maaseh, while you are performing it? The Rav actually believed and proved in all his works that when you carried out mitzvot you entered a world of thought that was quite distinctive – the world of Jewish philosophy. The Se/er Hachinnukh says ‘Acharei hapeulot nimshekhu halevavot’ – how you act affects what you feel. The Rav said in…
…published 14 January 2014) Environmental Responsibility (Covenant & Conversation, Shoftim) Environmental Ethics: JNF Rabbinical Conference (1992) Lecture Ceremony & Celebration Family Edition: Tu BiShvat Made With Love (Covenant & Conversation Family Edition, Acharei Mot Kedoshim) The Ecological Imperative (Covenant & Conversation Family Edition, Shoftim) The Good Society: The St George’s Lecture, 5 June 2000 (transcript where the environmental aspects of…
“On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins”. Lev. 16: 30 On the holiest day of the year, the Day of Atonement, the holiest of people, the High Priest, entered the holiest of places, the Holy of Holies, and made atonement for all Israel….
At the centre of the mosaic books is Vayikra. At the centre of Vayikra is the “holiness code” (chapter 19) with its momentous call: “You shall be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” And at the centre of chapter 19 is a brief paragraph which, by its positioning, is the apex, the high point, of the Torah:…
…asked, why should they have been included at all? And let me read to you a little passage from the book of Ruth and ask you, what does it remind you of? It says “Vaya’an Boaz,” (this is the first time Boaz and Ruth meet, and Boaz says to Ruth,) “hoogaid hoogad li kol asher asseet et-chamotaich acharei mot ishaich”,…
…here it is. Number… we now know all sorts of stuff that illustrate human free will that we didn’t know 50 years ago. Number one, the extreme plasticity of the brain. We can actually, by acting differently, reconfigure the architecture of the brain, which is what the Sefer HaChinuch means when he says, “Acharei haPeulot, nimshechot haLevavot.” Because in levavot…
…and strengthens the bond between you. ACHAREI MOT-KEDOSHIM: Clear rules and proper discipline help to establish, maintain and expand order for more fulfilled children, families, and society. Love is not enough. Relationships need rules. EMOR: Do not rely exclusively on To Do lists. Use a diary. And live by the Jewish calendar to experience the things that give life a…