Category: Kedoshim
Set Apart
Commentary on: Parashat Kedoshim
Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:1-20:27
And ADONAI spoke to Moshe, saying, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I ADONAI your God am holy.’ "
Rabbi Hertz in his commentary on this parasha introduces the reading with these words: "This remarkable chapter occupies the central position in Leviticus, and therefore in the Pentateuch. The Rabbis rightly regarded it as the kernel of the Torah and declared that ‘the essentials of the Torah are summarized therein.’ (Sifra)" 1
The parasha starts out with the LORD telling Moshe to speak to the entire congregation of Israel—everyone, not just the priests or the leaders but each and every person was to hear what Moshe had to say. The first thing they were to hear was: "Ye shall be holy; for I the LORD you God am holy." (KJV) This command to holiness is repeated three more times in this portion (20:7, 8, 26). What is really interesting are the results, or the outcome, of holiness as outlined in chapter 19:
- honoring one’s parents—verse 3
- staying away from idols and that which would lead one astray—verse 4
- care for the poor and the stranger—verse 9
- no stealing, lying or ‘dirty dealings’—verse 11
- proper treatment of neighbors and servants—verse 13
- respect for the handicapped—verse 14
- impartial judgments—verse 15
The list of apparent do’s and don’ts goes on through the end of chapter 20. Every verse seems to be some type of outward action, most of them relating to inter-personal relationships (immediate family, neighbors, community and even the stranger in the Land). In his book "The Mitzvot, The Commandments and Their Rationale," Rabb...
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Adapted from
Bikurei Tziyon #64
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