(link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Achary Mot – Kedoshim And he shall put lots on the two goats, one for the Lord and one for azazel (Vayikra 16:8)   And Aharon put lots on the two goats – one goat he placed on his right hand, the other on his left. He then put both hands in the urn, took one lot in each hand and placed it upon the corresponding goat. One of the lots was inscribed " for the Lord" and other " for Azazal" ....

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Achary Mot – Kedoshim And the land became defiled, and I visited its sin upon it, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. (Vayikra 18:25)   The nations have defiled themselves… and the land became defiled – These words are usually used in reference to the entire planet earth – as it relates to humanity, since the entire earth is called land. Its name reflects its significance – the foundation for the development of...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Achary Mot – Kedoshim YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT A PERVERSION OF JUSTICE WITH MEASURES, WEIGHTS, OR LIQUID MEASURES. YOU SHALL HAVE TRUE SCALES, TRUE WEIGHTS, A TRUE EPHAH, AND A TRUE HIN. I AM THE LORD, YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT. (Vayikra 19:35-36)   It forbids us even to have an imperfect weight or measure in our possession, it forbids us to be careless in measuring or weighing our...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Achary Mot – Kedoshim AND AARON SHALL PLACE LOTS UPON THE TWO GOATS, ONE MARKED FOR THE LORD AND THE OTHER MARKED FOR AZAZEL. AARON SHALL BRING FORWARD THE GOAT DESIGNATED BY LOT FOR THE LORD, WHICH HE IS TO OFFER AS A SIN OFFERING; WHILE THE GOAT DESIGNATED BY LOT FOR AZAZEL SHALL BE LEFT STANDING BEFORE THE LORD, TO MAKE EXPIATION WITH IT AND TO SEND IT OFF TO THE WILDERNESS FOR AZAZEL....

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Achary Mot – Kedoshim WHEN YOU REAP THE HARVEST OF YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL NOT REAP ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGES OF YOUR FIELD OR GATHER THE GLEANINGS OF YOUR HARVEST. YOU SHALL NOT PICK YOUR VINEYARD BARE, OR GATHER THE FALLEN FRUIT OF YOUR VINEYARD; YOU SHALL LEAVE THEM FOR THE POOR AND THE STRANGER: I AM THE LORD. (Vayikra 19: 9-10)     Anyone who leaves the gleanings, the forgotten sheaf and...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Achary Mot – Kedoshim LOVE OF ONE'S FELLOW AND LOVE OF THE ALIEN AS THE BASIS FOR A MORAL SOCIETY   If one violates a minor mitzva, eventually he will violate a major one; if he transgresses "Love your fellow as yourself" eventually he will transgress "Do not hate" and "Do not take revenge or retain anger", and in time he will disobey "So that your brother may live beside you", until he will finally commit murder – therefore it is written: "If it should be...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Acharei Mot – Kedoshim (link to original page) Parshat Acharei Mot- Kedoshim "…and that they may offer their sacrifices no more to the goats (se'irim)…": This refers to the demons; they are called se'irim because one's body shudders (yista'er) when one sees them. (Note similarly that crazy people see demons in the form of goats.) The phrase "no more" teaches us that the Israelites made such sacrifices in Egypt. (Ibn Ezra to Lev. 17:7; hinted at in Ibn Ezra to Lev. 16:7). Atonement for Sins: Then and Now "Your lips are...