Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Acharei Mot – Kedoshim is being sponsored by Jack and Chana Kaminker and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh Lilui Nishmas Jack’s Father Aryeh Shlomo Leib ben Elyakim. To the Kaminker family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShevua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
skype: mark.burt3
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As this Twin Bill Parshat HaShavua Acharei Mos-Kedoshim is being written, Israel is suffering both a severe rash of terror attacks throughout the land, as well as division and fractionalization among the people over civil judicial reforms long overdue. These reforms would create checks and balances between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government more in line with the world’s other democracies and make Israel’s judicial system more representative of the people, rather than of the elitist, prejudiced legal societies and their so-called “judge” appointees.
Near the end of the first half of our doubleheader parshiyot, there are five posukim which, in our times this author perceives may, could extend to Israel’s elitists’ alien concepts to Judaism as woke’ism, non-distinction between the genders (i.e.same genderism), worshiping at the altar of twin avodah zora — perpetuation of their hold on dictatorial power at all costs and their bogus “two state solution
This author, where there are Parshiyot that some years twin, attempts to find parallels between them.
Torah records:
“Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the B’nei Yisrael and say to them: I am Hashem, Keilokeichem [your G’d]. Do not perform the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practice of the land of Canaan to which I bring you, and do not follow their traditions. Carry out My laws and safeguard My decrees to follow them; I am Hashem, Keilokeichem. You shall observe My decrees and My laws, which man shall carry out and by which he shall live — I am Hashem.'” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 18, posukim 1-5 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash, pages 649, 651)
The above posukim, and any posukim and commentaries which follow, seem very meaningful in a time where elitists have infiltrated and sand-bagged many of their brethren into the normalization of alien concepts through their dominance of the media — including social media, the education ministry — k through 12 and the universities, the judiciary and entrenched ministerial bureaucracies — in short, the “deep state” Israel-style.
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash comments noting (page 648) :
This chapter [Perek 18] is the first of two that deal with the laws of immorality and the forbidden… [intimate] relationships. In it the Torah sets forth the prohibitions, in line with the principle that they do not punish unless they give a warning.
Torah now lists immoral and forbidden relationships (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 18, posukim 6-26 encapsulated by this author, posukim 28-30 as Rendered to English ibid, pages 651, 653) :
“Approaching his close relative to uncover nakedness…”
“Nakedness of your father and… of your mother you shall not uncover…”
“Nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s shame”
“Nakedness of your sister — whether it is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter… you shall not uncover their nakedness”
“Nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter — you shall not uncover…; for it is your own shame”
“Nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter who was born to your father — she is your sister; you shall not uncover her nakedness”
“Nakedness of your father’s sister you shall not uncover ; she is your father’s flesh.”
“Nakedness of your mother’s sister you shall not uncover ; she is your mother’s flesh.”
“Nakedness of your daughter-in-law you shall not uncover ; she is your son’s wife”
“Nakedness of your brother’s wife you shall not uncover ; it is your brother’s shame”
“Nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover ; you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness — they are close relatives, it is a depraved plot”
“You shall not take a woman in addition to her sister, to make them rivals, to uncover the nakedness of one upon the other in her lifetime”
“You shall not approach a woman in her time of… separation [tumah], to uncover her nakedness”
“You shall not lay carnally with your neighbor’s wife…”
“You shall not present any of your children to pass through for Molech, and do not profane the name of your G’d — I am Hashem”
“You shall not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, it is an abomination”
“Do not lie with any animal to be contaminated by it ; a woman shall not stand before an animal for mating, it is a perversion”“Do not become contaminated through any of these; for through all of these the nations I expel before you became contaminated. The Land became contaminated and I recalled the iniquity upon it ; and the Land disgorged [verb: to eject or throw out from the throat, mouth, or stomach; vomit forth, to discharge forcefully or as a result of force] its inhabitants. But you shall safeguard My decrees and My judgements, and not commit any of these abominations — the native or the proselyte who lives among you…. Let not the Land disgorge you for having contaminated it, as it disgorged the nation that was before you. For if anyone commits any of these abominations, the people doing so will be cut off from among their people. You shall safeguard My charge not to do any of the abominable traditions that were done before you and not contaminate yourselves through them; I am Hashem, Keilokeichem.” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 18, posukim 24-26, 28-30)
Just a note here from the Artscroll Stone Chumash regarding children and the avodah zora known as “Molech” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 18, posuk 21) with a citings from Sforno, Rashi, Rambam and Ramban (page 653) :
Molech was an idol whose worship was prevalent in Canaan. It is included because, like immorality, its practice contaminated the Land and led to the Divine expulsion of the Canaanites.
Sforno explains that Molech is more contemptible than any other form of idol worship. The Jew who serves Molech may bring his animal-offerings to Hashem’s Beit HaMikdash, but his children — who are most precious to him — he brings to Molech, thus demonstrating conclusively where his loyalties lie.
According to Rashi, the worship of Molech involves two sins, one by the parents and one by the priests [presumably of Molech]. The parents hand the child to the priests, who, in turn, make two bonfires and walk the child between the fires. Rambam (citing Hilchot Avodah Zora 6:3) maintains that the parents present their child to the priests, who then return him to them. Then, the parents themselves pass the child through the flames. Ramban agrees, but adds that the child was actually burned to death and consumed by the flames.
Somehow, this practice of offering to the avodah zora Molech seems to this author akin, in our times, to a “woke” educational system which dupes (verb: to make a dupe of; deceive; delude; trick) very young and adolescent children into being confused about their gender and more.
And Molech seems all about power and negating Our Creator, just as does “woke’ism.”
But it seems to this author that the most prevalent of these immoral and forbidden perverted relationships, in our times, would be domestic or child abuse and same genderism [this author’s term used in previous vorts] which seem exemplified by the posukim listed below as extracted from Sefer Vayikra, Perek 18, posukim 6-26:
“Nakedness of your sister — whether it is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter… you shall not uncover their nakedness” (Perek 18, posuk 9)
“Nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter — you shall not uncover…” (Perek 18, posuk 10)
“Nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter who was born to your father — she is your sister; you shall not uncover her nakedness” (Perek 18, posuk 11)
“Nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover ; you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness” (Perek 18, posuk 17)
“You shall not lie with a man as one lies with a woman” (Perek 18, posuk 22)
All of the above leads us to Torah recording the opening posukim of Parshat Kedoshim as Hashem hearkens Am Yisrael to Holiness:
“Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, ‘Speak to the entire assembly of B’nai Yisrael and say to them: You shall be holy, for holy am I, Hashem, your G’d.’” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 19, posukim 1-2 as rendered to English in the Sapirstein Edition “The Torah with Rashi’s Commentary”)
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin writes context on these opening posukim in his sefer “Unlocking the Torah Text”, Sefer Vayikra, pages 143-144):
The Rabbis note a surprising departure from the norm in the introductory sentence of Parshat Kedoshim: “Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, ‘Speak to the entire assembly of B’nai Yisrael and say to them…'” (Rabbi Goldin citing Sefer Vayikra, Perek 19, posukim 1-2)
This phrase clearly contrasts with the usual formula used to introduce countless passages of Torah text: “Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: ‘Speak to the B’nei Yisrael and say to them…'”
The variation leads the Midrash to conclude that, at Hashem’s command, Parshat Kedoshim was taught to the B’nei Yisrael in an exceptional way.
Here, Rabbi Goldin notes that the Rabbis explain that, normally Torah was given over to the Am Yisrael in a hierarchical manner; that Moshe learned directly from Hashem, and then recited the lesson to Aaron. Then Moshe recited the lesson to the sons of Aaron. Then the Elders entered and Moshe gave over the lesson to them. Then, with Aaron, his sons and the Elders assembled together, all the people entered and Moshe recited the lesson to them:
This way, the people heard [the lesson] once, the Elders twice, Aaron’s sons three times and Aaron four times. (“Unlocking the Torah Text”, Sefer Vayikra, page 143 citing Rashi on Shemot Perek 34, posuk 32, based on Talmud Bavli Eruvin 54b)
Rabbi Goldin continues:
The phrase “Speak to the entire assembly of B’nei Yisrael and say to them…” however indicates that, in the case of Parshat Kedoshim, the method of transmission changed. Parshat Kedoshim is of such singular importance, the Rabbis maintain, that it is taught b’hakhel, “in full assembly,” to the entire nation at once.
At Hashem’s command, all of Am Yisrael [all of the people] heard this portion of the law together, directly from Moshe because “most of the fundamental teachings of the Torah are derived therefrom.” (ibid, Rabbi Goldin citing Rashi on Vayikra Perek 19, posuk 2, based on Torat Kohanim, Kedoshim 1:1)
So, what were these fundamental Torah teachings? Rabbi Goldin enunciates many of them in his Parshat summary for Kedoshim (ibid, pages 142-143):
1/ “You shall fear, every man, his mother and his father; and you shall keep My Shabbos; I am Hashem, your G’d.”
2/ “You shall not steal; you shall not deny falsely; you shall not lie to one another.”
3/ “You shall not curse the deaf; and before the blind you shall not place a stumbling block. and you shall fear your G’d; I am Hashem.”
4/ “You shall not travel as a gossip monger among your people; you shall not stand idly by the blood of your fellow; I am Hashem.”
5/ “You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your fellow, and not bear sin because of him.”
6/ “You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people; and you shall love your fellow as yourself; I am Hashem.”Included, as well, are ritual laws such as:
1/ Kilayim and Shaatnez: prohibitions concerning crossbreeding of animals, specific agricultural mixtures and the combination of certain fibers in clothing.
2/ Orla and Neta Reva’i: The prohibition against consumption of the first three years of produce of a fruit tree and the obligation to bring the fourth year’s fruit to Jerusalem for consumption.
3/ Edicts prohibiting sorcery and superstitious beliefs.
4/ Edicts prohibiting men from totally cutting their sideburns [indicating one’s payos] and shaving with a razor.
[MB note: Sefer Vayikra. Perek 19, posuk 27 as rendered to English in “The Sapirstein Edition: The Torah with Rashi’s Commentary” : “You shall not round off the edge of your scalp and you shall not destroy the edge of your beard.”]Parshat Kedoshim closes with a series of warnings against immoral acts and with an elucidation [noun: the act of explaining or making something clear; an explanation or clarification] of the punishments for forbidden relationships first outlined at the end of Parshat Acharei Mot.
So now we see how Hashem fashions these Parshiyot — Acharei Mot and Kedoshim with continuity.
Torah concludes Parshat Kedoshim:
“You shall be holy for Me, for I Hashem am holy; and I have separated you from the peoples to be Mine. Any man or woman in whom there shall be the sorcery of Ov or Yid’oni, they shall be put to death, they shall pelt them with stones, their blood is upon themselves.” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 20, posukim 26-27 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides notes on posukim 26 and 27 (page 670-671) :
“And I have separated you…to be Mine.” If you keep yourselves apart from the nations and their ways, you will be Mine, otherwise you will belong to Nebuchadnezzar and his cohorts…. R’ Chaim of Volozhin used to comment that if Jews sanctify themselves, then — as this verse guarantees — Hashem will separate us from the nations to be His. What will happen if we do not sanctify ourselves? Then the nations will separate us from their midst for persecution and expulsion.
“Ov or Yid’oni.” The Perek ends with this sin because it symbolizes the difference between Israel and the nations [L’Chatchila — The way things ought to be] If Israel serves Hashem properly, it will deserve to have prophets and have no need for these magical ways of foretelling the future. ( Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash
citing Baal HaTurim)
This author perceives the projected judicial reforms as not only a balance between the branches of Israel’s government, but a step toward bringing an end to the various hooks of woke’ism and other perversities such as enunciated above, a step toward unity in Emunah in Hashem rather than equivocation to the will of the eirev rav and of other nations, as well as the fulfillment of our mission as Jews as a true light unto the nations and to fulfillment of our Ultimate Redemption, the Geula Shleima.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently settled and be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, all at total government expense; due to alt-leftist-agendized, supreme court legalized Yassamnik gunpoint. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his third year at home in Eretz Yisrael and has embarked on a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, as should the remains of the two chayalim from the Gaza War of nine years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese corona virus pandemic and all like viruses. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
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