Parshiyos Acharei Mos –
Kedoshim
This week
is also a double Parsha as we catch up for lack of leap-year. We have a
tremendous number of Mitzvos from the work of the Cohanim to forbidden
relationships and other Mitzvos related to being Holy.
Our Parsha
returns to where we left off with the painful death of Aharon’s sons. Since we
are three weeks into the story, the pain is lower and we continue.
16:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they
drew near before the LORD, and died;
God spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons… Why does Scripture
state this? Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah would illustrate this through a
parable of a sick person who was visited by a doctor. He told him: “Do not eat
cold food and do not lie in a damp place.” Another doctor came and told him:
“Do not eat cold food and do not lie in a damp place, so that you do not
die the same way so-and-so died.” The second doctor has motivated him
more than the first. That is why it says here: “after the death of
Aaron’s two sons”
2 and the LORD said unto Moses: 'Speak unto
Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the
veil, before the ark-cover which is upon the ark; that he die not; for I appear
in the cloud upon the ark-cover.
This shall
be only on Yom Kippur as an atonement for the whole nation before ME. I shall
be in a cloud above the Aron. These are the Korbanos particular to that day
when the Cohain HaGadol shall appear before me.
3 Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy
place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering.
4 He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and he shall have the linen breeches
upon his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen
mitre shall he be attired; they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his
flesh in water, and put them on.
On this
day, his garments shall be of linen after purification in the Mikvah (ritual
bath of water that has at least 40 Seah of rain water or ice that melted to
that minimum quantity – not drawn water, tap water. There is a possibility
where this water can mix or ‘kiss’ with tap water in an overflow space so that
during the summer months the Mikvah never dries up. The Halachos of making,
maintaining and building/designing a Mikvah have to be precisely followed to
keep the national and family purity.)
5 And he shall take of the congregation of the
children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a
burnt-offering. 6 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering,
which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 And
he shall take the two goats, and set them before the LORD at the door of the
tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for
the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat upon
which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer him for a sin-offering. 10 But the
goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before the LORD, to
make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness.
The goats
are identical in they way they look either twins or very similar such as it is
very hard to tell them apart.
11 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the
sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and
for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for
himself.
In order
for the Cohain to make an atonement for the entire nation; he and his family
have to had atoned for any sins that he or they committed. It was therefore of
the utmost importance that an atonement take place first for this family before
that of others. Once he and his family were free of sin; then he could atone
for the entire nation.
12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of
fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense
beaten small, and bring it within the veil. 13 And he shall put the incense
upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the
ark-cover that is upon the testimony, that he die not.
The Cohain
Gadol had bells on his garment that clanged as he entered the Kodosh Kedoshim
(Holy of Holies). The carrying of the incense guaranteed that in case he felt
faint, his soul would revive.
14 And he shall take of the blood of the
bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the ark-cover on the east; and
before the ark-cover shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven
times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the
people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did
with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before
the ark-cover. 16 And he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of
the uncleannesses of the children of Israel, and because of their
transgressions, even all their sins; and so shall he do for the tent of meeting,
that dwells
with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 And there shall be no man in
the tent of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until
he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for
all the assembly of Israel. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is
before the LORD, and make atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the
bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar
round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger
seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleannesses of the
children of Israel. 20 And when he hath made an end of atoning for the holy
place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.
During the
Yom Kippur service we say how he sprinkled the blood above the middle and below
the middle counting one then one and one … until one and six.
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the
head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children
of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put
them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of an
appointed man into the wilderness.
The man who
walked with the goat would go into the wilderness with various stations along
the way with emergency food and water if he felt weak. He that took the goat
into the wilderness would die within a year but be free of sin and Gehennom
(hell or purgatory of a weakened sinful soul).
22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their
iniquities unto a land which is cut off; and he shall let go the goat in the
wilderness. 23 And Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting, and shall put off
the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall
leave them there. 24 And he shall bathe his flesh in water in a holy place and
put on his other vestments, and come forth, and offer his burnt-offering and
the burnt-offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the
people. 25 And the fat of the sin-offering shall he make smoke upon the altar.
26 And he that lets go
the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and
afterward he may come into the camp.
He goes to
the Mikvah and changes into ritually and physically clean garments for the sins
of all Yisrael were wreaking from the goat on a spiritual plane.
27 And the bullock of the sin-offering, and the
goat of the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the
holy place, shall be carried forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the
fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burns them shall wash his clothes, and
bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 29 And it
shall be a statute for ever unto you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of
the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the
home-born, or the stranger that sojourns among you. 30 For on this day shall
atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall ye be clean
before the LORD. 31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest unto you, and ye shall
afflict your souls; it is a statute forever.
The day of
Atonement is for you a Shabbos or complete rest from all Melacha. The Sages
included via Oral Torah a day of fasting, refraining from any intimacy with
family members out of small children that might need cuddling, wearing leather
sandals or shoes, and washing except for the tips of the hands, a small child,
or somebody who is ill which suspends things. [Our recent war amputees can wear
their prosthetics. Diabetics, cancer and some heart patients should not
fast.]
32 And the priest, who shall be anointed and
who shall be consecrated to be priest in his father's stead, shall make the
atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 And
he shall make atonement for the most holy place, and he shall make atonement
for the tent of meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the
priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 And this shall be an
everlasting statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel
because of all their sins once in the year.' And he did as the LORD commanded
Moses.
There must be a deserving Cohain elected
to become Cohain Gadol. During the second Mikdash, towards the end, there was a
Cohain who married a rich widow. That was permissible for a regular Cohain. She
was rich and he used her money to influence people to become Cohain Gadol (who
could only marry a virgin – see next week’s Parsha Emor). As he entered the
Holy of Holies, he was struck down and died on the spot. Afterwards, ropes were
attached to the Cohain Gadol to pull the body out. Rabbi Yishmael was assistant
to the Cohain Gadol for years and took over the job after the non-worthy died.
You would think after a year or two the Cohanim would learn but they continued
to sin and select unworthy people.
17:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and
unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them: This is the thing which the
LORD hath commanded, saying: 3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel,
that kills/slaughters an
ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that kills/slaughters it
without the camp, 4 and hath not brought it unto the door of the tent of
meeting, to present it as an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of
the LORD, blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that
man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 To the end that the children of
Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, even
that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tent of meeting,
unto the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace-offerings unto the
LORD. 6 And the priest shall dash the blood against the altar of the LORD at
the door of the tent of meeting, and make the fat smoke for a sweet savour unto
the LORD.
Free-will,
thanksgiving and peace offering are brought to the Cohain by the people. And
other sacrifices by the people were forbidden even unto HASHEM and all the more
so described in the next sentences.
7 And they shall no more sacrifice their
sacrifices unto the satyrs, after whom they go astray. This shall be a statute
for ever unto them throughout their generations. 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 offers a burnt-offering or sacrifice, 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. 10 And whatsoever man there be
of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that eats any manner of blood, I will set My
face against that soul that eats blood, and will cut him off from among his
people.
The
punishment of eating blood in this world is Kares from the Jewish People and
Reward in the next world. Perhaps the most vicious liable of the Christians and
recently taken over by the Arabs is the blood liable of killing a child for
blood to bake Matzos.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood;
and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for
it is the blood that makes
atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I said unto the children of
Israel: No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourns among you eat blood. 13 And
whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that
sojourn among them, that takes in hunting any beast or fowl that may be
eaten, he shall pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 14 For as
to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with the life thereof;
therefore, I
said unto the children of Israel: Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh;
for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof; whosoever eats it shall be cut off.
Kares for
Am Yisrael.
15 And every soul that eats that which dies of itself, or that which is torn of
beasts, whether he be home-born or a stranger, he shall wash his clothes, and
bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even; then shall he be clean.
Torn by
beasts is Trafe. Dies of itself is Nevaila. Not only are these forbidden to eat
they are Tumay (ritually impure).
16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his
flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity. 18:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say
unto them: I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt,
wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan,
whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes.
4 Mine ordinances shall ye do, and My statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein:
I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and Mine
ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
The
following section I dealt with last year pertaining to forbidden relationships.
This includes incest, adultery or even marital relations with one’s own spouse
during times of her Tuma.
https://rabbipauli.blogspot.com/2024/05/parsha-acherei-mos-story-swords-of-iron.html
https://rabbipauli.blogspot.com/2025/05/parshiyos-mezora-acherei-mos-some.html
6 None of you shall approach to any that is
near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness. I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness
of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is
thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of thy
father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. 9 The
nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy
mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt
not uncover. 10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter,
even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; for theirs is thine own nakedness.
11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she
is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 12 Thou shalt not uncover
the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister; for she is thy
mother's near kinswoman. 14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy
father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. 15
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son'
wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 16 Thou shalt not uncover the
nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. 17 Thou shalt
not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her
son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are
near kinswomen; it is lewdness. 18 And thou shalt not take a woman to her
sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her
lifetime. 19 And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness,
as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. 20 And thou shalt not lie carnally
with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. 21 And thou shalt not
give any of thy seed to set them apart to Molech, neither shalt thou profane
the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
I have read
thoughts about this flame ceremony that may have been like a hearth in the
winter time to warm up a newborn and turned into idolatry for a fire like god.
22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with
womankind; it is abomination.
Abomination
is only used in the Torah to describe male homosexuality and idolatry. The
Torah does not mince words and therefore this is outstanding in severity.
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.
This time
bestiality one to have relations with other species it is a perversion. This
word too is also one rarely used in the Torah.
24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these
things; for in all these the nations are defiled, which I cast out from before
you. 25 And the land was defiled, therefore I did visit the iniquity thereof
upon it, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.
The
violation of these commandments produce a result of such unholiness that the
holy land of Eretz Yisrael that it vomits you out. {In Kabbalah, inanimate
objects made of atoms, crystals, etc. have a resonant frequency dependent on
HASHEM. The inanimate land of Yisrael has its spiritual power that makes it
holy.}
26 Ye therefore shall keep My statutes and Mine
ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born,
nor the stranger that sojourns among you-- 27 for all these abominations have
the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled-- 28
that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the
nation that was before you. 29 For whosoever shall do any of these
abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their
people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep My charge, that ye do not any of these
abominable customs, which were done before you, and that ye defile not
yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.
Like in the military, the reason given is
a command because: I am the LORD your God.
19:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the
children of Israel, and say unto them: Ye shall be holy; for I the LORD your
God am holy.
Similar to
the end of chapter 18, you shall be holy as you are imitating your holy
CREATOR.
3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his
father, and ye shall keep My sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Two of the
10 Commandments in reverse order having to fear one’s parents. They have
combined themselves with HASHEM to create you. Aka father + mother + Shechina
in holy matrimony.
4 Turn ye not unto the idols, nor make to yourselves
molten gods: I am the LORD your God.
Also from
the 10 Commandments for holiness as a reminder.
5 And when ye offer a sacrifice of
peace-offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it that ye may be accepted. 6 It
shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow; and if aught remain
until the third day, it shall be burnt with fire.
A peace
offering is a good thing but there is a limit to a good thing. Otherwise, we
would become epicureans and only pursue pleasure.
7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day,
it is a vile thing; it shall not be accepted. 8 But every one that eats it shall bear his iniquity, because
he hath profaned the holy thing of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off
from his people.
In the
climate of Israel having meat left out for more than a day, night and the next
day would make the holy meat disgusting.
9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land,
thou shalt not wholly reap the corner of thy field, neither shalt thou gather
the gleaning of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither
shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for
the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
The Torah
had social solutions to prevent poverty and starvation.
11 Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal
falsely, nor lie one to another. 12 And ye shall not swear by My name falsely,
so that thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. 13 Thou shalt not
oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the wages of a hired servant shall not
abide with thee all night until the morning.
One should
not plot, cheat, rob or oppress people.
14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a
stumbling-block before the blind, but thou shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
It may seem
funny at the time but it is disgusting to do these things. [As we age, some of
these things in one form or another can affect us.]
15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment;
thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor favour the person of the
mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
Last week
in “Inyanay Diyoma” I brought down a live microphone talk between Israel ‘Supreme’
Court Judges talking on how they want to destroy the Charedi Yeshiva System.
That is far from impartial to put it mildly!
16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a
talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy
neighbour: I am the LORD. 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou
shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. 18 Thou
shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. 19 Ye
shall keep My statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse
kind; thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed; neither shall there
come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together. 20 And
whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, designated for a
man, and not at all redeemed, nor was freedom given her; there shall be
inquisition; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21 And
he shall bring his forfeit unto the LORD, unto the door of the tent of meeting,
even a ram for a guilt-offering. 22 And the priest shall make atonement for him
with the ram of the guilt-offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath
sinned; and he shall be forgiven for his sin which he hath sinned. 23 And when ye shall come into the
land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count
the fruit thereof as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you;
it shall not be eaten. 24 And in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be
holy, for giving praise unto the LORD. 25 But in the fifth year may ye eat of
the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you more richly the increase thereof:
I am the LORD your God.
The fruit
from a new tree has the same word as foreskin of an infant male, Orlah. Just
like it is forbidden (except for hemophilia or another disease) for a Jewish
Male to be uncircumcised, it is forbidden to eat this fruit.
26 Ye shall not eat with the blood; neither
shall ye practise divination nor soothsaying. 27 Ye shall not round the corners
of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not
make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor imprint any marks upon you: I
am the LORD. 29 Profane not thy daughter, to make her a harlot, lest the land
fall into harlotry, and the land become full of lewdness. 30 Ye shall keep My
sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.
You shall
keep your sons and daughters holy and observe my holy Shabbos.
31 Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto
familiar spirits; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your
God. 32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old
man, and thou shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
Another
warning against idol worship and respect for the elderly.
33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your
land, ye shall not do him wrong. 34 The stranger that sojourns 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. 35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness
in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances, just
weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 And ye shall observe all My
statutes, and all Mine ordinances, and do them: I am the LORD.
Justice includes a standardization of weights
and measures.
20:1 And
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Moreover, thou shalt say to the children
of Israel: Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that
sojourn in Israel, that giveth of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put
to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I also will set
My face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people, because
he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile My sanctuary, and to profane
My holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do at all hide their eyes from
that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and put him not to death; 5
then I will set My face against that man, and against his family, and will cut
him off, and all that go astray after him, to go astray after Molech, from
among their people. 6 And the soul that turns unto the ghosts, and unto the
familiar spirits, to go astray after them, I will even set My face against that
soul, and will cut him off from among his people. 7 Sanctify yourselves
therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the LORD your God. 8 And keep ye My
statutes, and do them: I am the LORD who sanctify you.
During the
period of Moshe, idolatry was the way of the land. The Torah is repeating the
warning from this dangerous way.
9 For whatsoever man there be that curses his father or his mother shall
surely be put to death; he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood
shall be upon him. 10 And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife,
even he that commits
adultery with his neighbour's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall
surely be put to death. 11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife--he
hath uncovered his father's nakedness--both of them shall surely be put to
death; their blood shall be upon them. 12 And if a man lie with his
daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have wrought
corruption; their blood shall be upon them.
These are
all lusty desires that exist in man as within chapter 18, they had to be re-emphasized.
13 And if a man lie with mankind, as with
womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to
death; their blood shall be upon them.
This is
such an abomination that the death penalty is occurred.
14 And if a man take with his wife also her
mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that
there be no wickedness among you. 15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall
surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast. 16 And if a woman approach
unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast:
they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Such wickedness
has to be flushed out of society.
17 And if a man shall take his sister, his
father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see
his nakedness: it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight
of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he
shall bear his iniquity.
This is a
shameful act (a new description) for awaking the listener – reader of Torah to
prevent such an occurrence.
18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having
her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness--he hath made naked her fountain,
and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood--both of them shall be cut off
from among their people.
All of the
forbidden relationships involve Kares. But this sort of act is like eating
bread on Pesach and getting Kares. His wife is permitted to him except during this
time and therefore Kares is emphasized here.
19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of
thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister; for he hath made naked his
near kin; they shall bear their iniquity. 20 And if a man shall lie with his
uncle's wife--he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness--they shall bear their
sin; they shall die childless. 21 And if a man shall take his brother's wife,
it is impurity: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be
childless. 22 Ye shall therefore keep all My statutes, and all Mine ordinances,
and do them, that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not
out. 23 And ye shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting
out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
You should
not follow the customs of other nations in your vicinity. Not their idols,
Shiite cuttings for the dead, honor killings of women by Arabs, etc.
24 But I have said unto you: 'Ye shall inherit
their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land flowing with milk
and honey.' I am the LORD your God, who have set you apart from the peoples. 25
Ye shall therefore separate between the clean beast and the unclean, and
between the unclean fowl and the clean; and ye shall not make your souls
detestable by beast, or by fowl, or by any thing wherewith the ground teems, which I have set apart for you to
hold unclean. 26 And ye shall be holy unto Me; for I the LORD am holy, and have
set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be Mine.
You will
inherit a good land if you refrain from sin.
27 A man also or a woman that divines by a ghost or a familiar spirit,
shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones; their blood
shall be upon them.
This is mentioned earlier in this chapter
and repeated here to make sure that one trusts only in HASHEM or the oral Torah
advice passed down through our Sages.
A Memory Beverage by Rabbi Yerachmiel
Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=446-36
Rabbi Chaim Vital was born and raised in Safed. After his Bar Mitzvah,
he studied Torah under Rabbi Moshe Alshich. One day Rabbi Yosef Karo came to
caution Rabbi Alshich.
"Your student Chaim is a very remarkable young man. In the
name of the Maggid, the heavenly teacher who comes to me, I request that you be
exceptionally careful in supervising every stage of his development,
particularly in Torah."
Rabbi Chaim quickly gained a deep understanding of Talmud and
halacha, and eventually was ordained by Rabbi Alshich. He soon turned to the
mystical side of Torah and avidly studied the Zohar. In due course of time, he
was initiated into the select circle of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero's disciples.
When he began studying with Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the holy Ari, in
1570, his mentor set out a two-fold program for him to constantly follow. The
first directive was to restrain himself at all times from any bad character
traits. He should never get angry, depressed, haughty, or impatient, nor should
he even discuss trite matters. Instead, he should maintain a low-keyed image of
himself, filled with inner joy and fear of sin. The second directive was an
order of learning, a detailed curriculum. Every day he should study Chumash,
Mishna, Talmud and Kabbala, especially the Zohar.
Rabbi Luria stressed that man's ability to ascend the spiritual
ladder depends greatly on one's kavana, his intentions and focus. Besides the
necessary kavana when fulfilling a commandment, the Ari cautioned his disciple
to be very meticulous when reciting blessings on food. All foods, he explained,
possess (in addition to a holy spark) adverse spiritual forces (kelipot) which
'desire' to create a negative affect on the eater. Only by reciting the
blessing with the proper kavana can one annul that adverse affect, thus
purifying one's body and cleansing one's thoughts.
Next, Rabbi Luria delineated a path of repentance for Rabbi Chaim
to follow to correct sins he had committed earlier in is life. For instance, as
an atonement for cursing his parents when he was a child, Rabbi Chaim was to
fast for three consecutive days, meditating on certain holy names. The fast
ended on Shavuot night.
"The whole night of Shavuot," wrote Rabbi Vital, "I
studied Kabbala with Rabbi Luria. He informed me that I had succeeded in
atoning for that sin."
Both the intensity of their learning and its tremendous quantity
and complexity began to affect Rabbi Vital. He realized that he could not
retain all of the vast wisdom his mentor was bestowing on him.
The situation worsened.
When Rabbi Chaim confided his concern to his mentor, Rabbi Luria
simply told him not to worry. He has a plan.
Together they went to Tiberias and walked through the town until
they came to the fishing dock by the bank of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
There they rented a small boat and rowed southward into the lake in the
direction of the Tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes.
About halfway there, the Ari slowed the boat and carefully scanned
the water, searching for a certain spot, using an ancient synagogue on the
shoreline as a landmark. When he reached the exact spot for which he had been
searching, which appeared to Rabbi Chaim no different from the rest of the
lake, he lowered a flask and filled it with sea water.
"Drink this!" he ordered his disciple as he handed him
the flask. "It is water from the well of Miriam from which our forefathers
drank in the wilderness. They were called the Generation of Knowledge, and once
you have partaken of this water, it will cure you and you shall forget nothing
I teach you."
So it came to pass. From that day Rabbi Chaim Vital both
comprehended the wisdom of the Kabbalistic system of his mentor, and became its
principal disseminator and redactor, in the form of the multi-volume Kitvei
Ari-"Writings of the Ari," the authoritative writings of the holy Ari
of blessed memory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Adapted by
Yerachmiel Tilles from "Safed, The Mystical City" by Dovid
Rossoff.]
Biographic Notes:
Rabbi Chaim Vital (1543 - 30 Nisan 1620) Student of Rabbis Moshe Alshich and
Moshe Cordovero, but best known as the main disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria
and the authoritative redactor of his doctrines, as recorded in Etz Chaim
("Tree of Life"). Pri Etz Chaim ("Fruit of the Tree of
Life"), and Shmona Shaarim ("Eight Gates"). Author of
several books of his own as well.
(For
a more full biography) (For
teachings of the Ari translated into English)
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria
(1534 - 5 Av 1572), Known as "the holy Ari," revolutionized the study
of Kabbalah and its integration into mainstream Judaism during the two years he
spent in Tzfat before his death at 38.
(For
a more full biography) (For
teachings of the Ari translated into English)
The 5th
and 6th of Iyar marks the 60th anniversary of an
extraordinary event that turned me from an Agonistic Reform Jew into an
Orthodox Jew over the course of close to two years until I was fully kosher and
Shomer Shabbos. Hopefully, I will find what I wrote 10 years ago and edit it
next week.
Car
Lotteries by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1480-31
A while back, I received a call from a family who didn't own a
car. They have eight children, and shopping is a real challenge. I could only
imagine how difficult it must be for the mother to take all the kids on buses
just to get groceries. I explained that our organization doesn't provide cars,
but if I ever hear of a used car being given away, I would gladly try to help.
A week later, I noticed that Aishel Shabbat, a wonderful free-food
distribution organization in Brooklyn, was holding a Chinese auction-and one of
the prizes was a car. On a whim, I bought a ticket for this family. I even
posted on Facebook, saying that if I won the car, I would give it to a family
in need.
I was with my daughter when I bought the ticket and jokingly warned her,
"Make sure your father actually gives the car if I win-I might be tempted
to keep it!" She laughed and said, "Dad, don't worry. There are
thousands of tickets. You won't win."
Two days later, I got a call from Aishel Shabbat: "Mr. Cohen, you won the
car lottery!"
I was stunned. I went straight to share the news with the family, who were
overjoyed. I told them, "It's not me. This is from G-D. I'm just a
middleman."
A couple of years passed, and I received another call from a family in a similar
situation: many kids, no car, and every day a struggle. I explained the same
thing-our organization doesn't give out cars-but I'd let them know if I heard
of any opportunities.
Then, a few weeks later, I received a text from Aishel Shabbat: "Last chance
for our car raffle." I decided to try again. I posted on Facebook, sharing
that two years ago, I had won a car and given it to a needy family, and that if
I won again, it would go to another family in need.
A few days later, the unbelievable happened. Another text: "Mr. Cohen, you
won the car raffle!"
I thought, "It can't be. It's impossible to win twice." But they
assured me it was true: thousands of tickets, a barrel shaken, a young girl
closing her eyes, and picking the winning ticket.
Once again, I was able to hand over a car to a family who truly needed it.
Twice in two years, miracles happened, and two families' lives were made
easier.
This experience reminds me that everything we have-our homes, our clothing, our
cars-is a gift from G-D. We are all just middlemen for His blessings. The best
we can do is be thankful and share those blessings whenever we can.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Freely adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a submission to a WhatsApp
stories group.
Why This Week? In the Torah reading of Acharei Mot, we learn that there was a lottery in both the Holy
Temples on Tom Kippur day!
A recipe to
avoid Dementia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q9qkpwfcYk
Milestone: Michael
Rabin, 94, computer scientist. Perhaps the father of Israeli AI. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/byohxvw611l?tbref=hp
Inyanay Diyoma
Apr. 18th and
19th
Day 925 and Day 926 since Oct. 7th Day 49/50 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury start of week 133
Friday, we had a
terrible dust storm that affected me from the
night before. It was so bad, I decided that it
was dangerous for a heart patient to be walking up and down hills. In fact,
even in the house the dust was irritating. I stayed home to Motzei Shabbos when
the sky/air cleared enough.
We entered Shabbos with
a feeling that perhaps Trump had pulled off a deal with Iran with a pressured
ceasefire in the north and Teheran opening up Hormuz. Motzei Shabbos the story
was different. Iran and the US might have another war. Although war is
unpleasant and even from a personal standpoint dangerous even from shrapnel; it
is preferable to complete the fight with the evil empire. As I wrote, my gym
took a hit on the day I was supposed to be there.
There are rumors in
Israel that the US is not going to play games with Iran and has brought even
more planes to the area. The President got so angry at Iran the other day that
he lost his voice screaming at them per Lindsey Graham on Hannity Thursday.
Three small Iranian
Ships try to attack the USN Ship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxCtQLW9e9k
Israeli Study Covid 19
and Lung Cancer Risk. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/rk74p119nze
Threat in Lebanon
continues. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425709
Turkey’s economic
takeover of Syria. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425690
Trump says that Israelis are
courageous, bold, loyal and smart. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425697
Iran
is hardening its position and announced Saturday that it has closed the Strait
of Hormuz, stating it will continue to control the Strait until the end of the
war. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425677
Warning to Iran: Every
single power plant and bridge. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425722
Minister demands end to
alternative ceremonies. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425689
According
to the data cited by The New York Times, Iran currently possesses 60% of its
missile launchers and 40% of its UAV (drone) capabilities. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425703
Revolutionary Guards
defy their government. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425708
Just before ceasefire,
the IDF established presence 12km in from Mt. Hermon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425667
Leaders
of the opposition parties are planning to offer Benny Ganz the position of the
next President of Israel in exchange for his leaving politics, Kan 11 News reported
on Friday evening. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425674
In the heat of battle
word of a ceasefire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425644
Apr. 20th
Day 927 since Oct. 7th Day 51 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Last night, the US
neutralized an Iranian Vessel in Hormuz. Are peace talks on or off? Has HASHEM
hardened the heart of Pharaoh/Iran again?
Population of Israel.
The increase is slowing down. https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-israel-approaches-78th-independence-day-its-population-stands-at-10-244-million/
This time the IDF in
Lebanon does not have a local population where terrorists could hide out within. https://www.timesofisrael.com/26-years-later-idf-restores-its-south-lebanon-security-zone-with-key-changes/
https://www.aol.com/news/eight-children-killed-domestic-dispute-161238108.html
Man kills partner and
stabs her child. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425765
Attempted blockade
breech. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425748
No Talks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425749
Antisemitism and the
Democratic Party. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425756
Neutralized Hezballah
launcher. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425761
Freed
hostage Romi Gonen hosted her grandmother on her new podcast, V1, speaking
about her grandmother's own experiences since the October 7 massacre, when Romi
was kidnapped. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425759
Iran’s secret terrorism
program. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425771
Iran trying to exploit
Israeli Youths. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425763
Nearly
6,000 miles from Tehran, inside a modest industrial building in Yonkers, New
York, a quiet collaboration is unfolding. Iranian, Israeli and American
partners are working together to revive a Persian national drink that nearly
vanished after it was banned under Iran’s Islamic Republic. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bybqyvxazl
N. Korea working on
cluster munitions. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-893557
Apr. 21st
Day 928 since Oct. 7th Day 52 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
It is soldiers’
remembrance and Memorial Day in Israel. Today, I was unable to cancel the
flight to the States so we went down to El Al and sent an e-mail to the vice
general manager that the people from El Al in the airport supplied me with.
By doing that I lost
time updating the news and I was stopped at the blockade before the airport by
the guards 2 minutes to siren. It was “anything bound to go wrong will go
wrong” and the gym closed early today.
The cream of the cream
appears to be that the war is most likely going to restart by the hardening of
the heart of the Iranian Guards.
91 https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-arab-citizens-including-young-mother-killed-in-separate-shootings/
Minister cries at his
Rabbi’s Grave. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425862
Soldier chopped down
Christian Statue will receive 30 days detention.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425864
US
President Donald Trump called on Iran to free eight women who are reportedly
set to be executed as part of Iran's crackdown on anti-regime protests.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425863
Blocked massacre with
his own body. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425865
Apr. 22nd
Day 929 since Oct. 7th Day 54 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
B”H despite my bad day
yesterday, I will be issued a refund on the ticket.
Waiting for unified
Iranian Proposal. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893776
Captivity Survivor and
Wounded Paramedic Golani 51 play piano together. The Golani fellow was in a
coma 38 days and physically overcame problems in at least one hand. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425911
5 Israeli Tycoons
surged with AI and the war. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/rk0gbel6bx
The Japanese sung “I
feel the earth moving under my feet”. 7.5 Earthquake and Tsunami. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbUXhHToBYU
IRGC gunboat vs.
container ship. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-04-22/live-updates-893795
Apr. 23rd
Day 930 since Oct. 7th Day 53 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury
Israel is on high
alert. It is a matter of a short time before the war in Lebanon continues and
in Iran about the same. It is up to either Hezballah or Trump. In fact, Israel
has no dispute with the Lebanese Army any more that I have a dispute with
Brigette Gabriel. However, Hezballah is fanatic and has a suicidal cult.
Terrorist surrenders. IDF
soldiers on Wednesday identified a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist planning an
imminent attack against IDF soldiers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425950
94 Arabs dead this
year. A gangland slaying on main highway 40 close to Lod. But the press is
concerned with a perhaps defensive killing of an Arab in Shomron.
That Arabs attack
Jewish Hikers doesn’t make the editor’s cut. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425925
Swift
and determined action by officers of the Israel Police Jerusalem District and
fighters from the Border Police of Israel led this evening (Wednesday) to the
arrest of a 42-year-old resident of eastern Jerusalem suspected of planning to
carry out a terror attack during Independence Day. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425935
No time frame for Iran
Conflict. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425941
2+2 terrorists
approaching troops become Shachidim. Two in Gaza two in Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425948
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425908
Iran accuses man of
spying for Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425945
TX Mandatory Ten
Commandments in Public Schools. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425947
Bible Contest Winner: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425907
Activists cross into
Syria and returned. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425919
Lebanese ceasefire
could collapse. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bj6ipfla11x
Sgt.
Oren Metzuyanim, a 21-year-old lone soldier serving in the IDF, drew widespread
attention on social media following the broadcast, with viewers sharing clips
and praising her appearance during the ceremony. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/syfupo8611x
Mine clearing in Hormuz
could take six months. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1z00p5iabe
More weapons found in
S. Lebanon. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425909
Another Oct. 7th
terrorist eliminated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425913
More Nigerian
Terrorism. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-893865
Another large missile
fragment found in central Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893859
Iran’s
semi official Tasnim News Agency,
linked to its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Wednesday about the
vulnerability of undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-893954
Supreme Leader is alive
but managed by IRGC Commanders. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-893967
Apr. 24th
Day 931 since Oct. 7th Day 54 of Roaring Lion/Epic Fury end of week 133
The US Airlift of
bombs, troops, planes and antimissile missiles to the Middle East continues.
Israel has been resupplied for another six weeks or more of war and then some.
The dry-dock repaired USS George Bush Aircraft Carrier Group has arrived.
There appears to be
some USN resolution to the Hormuz stalemate coming soon. https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-he-ordered-us-navy-to-shoot-and-kill-boats-mining-the-strait-of-hormuz/
A new US Plan
focuses first and foremost on damaging Tehran’s ability to block the Strait of
Hormuz - the strategic shipping lane through which most of the world’s oil
supply passes. As
part of a broader campaign of economic and diplomatic pressure, the possibility
of striking Iranian strategic infrastructure and energy facilities is being
considered. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426018
Fake News or What is really going on in Iran? https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/23/injured-and-isolated-mojtaba-khamenei-rules-iran-through-a-tight-inner-circle/
Non-religious and leftist were saved by right wing
religious Jews on Oct. 7th. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426019
Donald Trump the
builder does not like the idea of destroying power plants, bridges and infrastructure
but he might have no choice soon. In Iran, he may have no choice. However, in
Lebanon he has an easier time brokering things.
If you work with either
the Israeli Military or American Military don’t place bets on future events
with secret information. It might just jeopardize your freedom. https://www.foxnews.com/us/army-soldier-involved-maduro-capture-arrested-allegedly-using-classified-intel-win-410k-bets
The 5th
and 6th of Iyar marks the 60th anniversary of an
extraordinary event that turned me from an Agonistic Reform Jew into an
Orthodox Jew over the course of close to two years until I was fully kosher and
Shomer Shabbos. Hopefully, I will find what I wrote 10 years ago and edit it
next week in the www.rabbipauli.blogspot.com story
section.
Also to assassinate Air
Force Chief. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425994
I have my own opinion
about the man’s politics but the police have no right. https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-detain-modiin-man-for-wearing-kippa-with-palestinian-flag-cut-it-out/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/group-of-over-250-bnei-menashe-immigrants-from-india-lands-in-israel/
The gangs and crazies
in the USA don’t cease. Baton Rouge, LA: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425990
Unadvisable to
transport munitions near the IDF in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425963
Pizza worker stabbed to
death by youths in Petach Tikva. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426016
Williams
College, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the United
States, is being accused of serious religious discrimination against a
Shabbat-observant Jewish student. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426020
An
18-year-old woman is being held on a $10 million bond after authorities alleged
she conspired with two men to attack a Texas synagogue and “kill as many Jews
as possible," ABC News reported Thursday, citing court records. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426009
Hezballah violates
ceasefire. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426004
Will Spain be suspended
from NATO? https://www.jpost.com/international/article-894058
95 Druze Businessman
murdered. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-894056
The recovery of the
Hamas terrorists. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894038
A friendly reminder to count the Omer each night, read Perkei Avos and be as physically active as you can. A healthy, happy, peaceful and restful Shabbos to all,
Rachamim
Pauli
