May 11, 2024
A PEEK AT THE PARSHA
Parshat Kedoshim is a parsha that is rich with mitzvot. The first mitzvah is an all-inclusive mitzvah: be holy like Hashem.
Moshe first teaches mitzvot that are between people (Bein Adam L’chaveiroh). These include Mitzvot Ahsay (positive mitzvot that we do) and Mitzvot Lo Ta’ahsay (negative mitzvot that we do not do. Some of the mitzvot in the parsha are respecting parents, honoring the elderly, paying workers on-time, not stealing, not lying, not speaking Lashon Hara, not taking revenge and not giving bad advice.
ONE BIG IDEA
After the Torah says, “Be holy because I, Hashem, am holy,” there is a list of mitzvot that help a person become holy. One would think that the mitzvot listed would be Mitzvot Bein Adam L’makom (between a person and Hashem) like Tefilah, Shabbat, and learning Torah, because holiness comes from Hashem. But the list is actually Mitzvot Bein Adam L’chavero (between a person and another person), like Tzedakah, honoring your parents and caring for the elderly. The lesson is that becoming holy is about both the way we act towards Hashem and the way we act towards people.
The parsha also discusses the importance of being kind to others. We're told to treat everyone with respect and love, just like we would want to be treated. This means being nice to our friends, our family, and even people we don't know very well. Imagine how happy the world would be if everyone treated each other with kindness!
Next, we learn about the mitzvot which are Bein Adam L’makom (between us and Hashem). We don’t always understand the reasons for doing these mitzvot. We follow the rules of our parents and teachers, even if we don’t fully understand their reasons, because we know that they want the best for us, in the same way we follow Hashem’s mitzvot. Some of the these mitzvot include: observing Shabbat, Kilayim (not mixing certain plants together), Shatnez (not wearing clothing that is made of a mixture of wool and linen), Orlah (after planting a fruit tree, not eating its fruits for the first three years), and not getting a permanent tattoo.
Parshat Kedoshim ends with Hashem reminding Bnei Yisrael that they are different from the other nations and that their land will be for Bnei Yisrael. The parsha describes Israel as an Eretz Zavat Chalav U’dvash, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Candle-lighting: 7:44pm Havdalah: 8:44pm allah: 5:25pm
