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Shabbat Acharei
Mot - Kedoshim: Levit. 16.1-20.27
Haftorah Ashkenazi: Amos 9.7-15
Haftorah Sephardi: Ezekiel 20.2-20
ACHAREI MOT:
Once a year, the High Priest of Israel was to make atonement for the
sins of the Congregation. This ceremony of purification was taught to
Aaron just after his sons, Nadav and Avihu, perished. The juxtaposition
of events indicates the place of punishment and atonement; there must be
adequate provision for both in our lives. The High Priest was instructed
to enact the ritual of the "scapegoat," which bore upon its head the
sins of Israel. This goat perished in our place - a kind of early day
transubstantiation. In modern times, we read this portion on Yom Kippur.
While on the subject of holiness, we find a section dealing with the
sanctity of animals slaughtered for our consumption. This impacts us as
a holy nation, for we are forbidden to descend into idolatrous practices
- like the drinking of blood - even when satisfying our lust for meat.
This is continued in another section dealing with unlawful marriages,
promiscuity, and sexual perversion. We learn that the morality outside
the Sanctuary is at least as important as piety within its walls.
KEDOSHIM:
This portion has been regarded as the essence of Torah, "rov gufay
Torah" by many of our commentators. In its rambling account of ritual
and moral laws, we see a kernel of the Decalogue repeated once again. We
see fundamental laws of justice and righteousness between two human
beings. Situated right in the middle of the Torah, Kedoshim forms a
timeless dictum to all generations. G-d bids us to be holy, as driven by
the G-dliness in us all. Aside from revering the Almighty, we must act
kindly to the less fortunate, abandon vengeance, forsake criminal and
idolatrous practices, and deal honestly in business. We look away from
any practice that is ruinous to us since, as creations of G-d, we have a
bit of the Divine within us all (Nefesh - “soul or spirit”). As a
message to a slave nation getting its first taste of freedom and
autonomy, and as a moral teaching to us, the descendants of those
ex-slaves, these words bring nobility and higher purpose to our
existence.
PESACH SHEINI (14 Iyar / 26 April) - Observed to
indicate a one month grace period for those who could not deliver the
Paschal lamb at the required time for Passover. Many eat Matzah and omit
the Tachanun Prayers on this day.
LAG B'OMER (18 Iyar / 30 April) - The 'Omer' was
the offering of new barley brought to the Temple on the second day of
Passover. Fifty days were counted from the day after the omer offering
to determine the date of the Shavuot festival. Lag B'Omer is the 33rd
day in the Omer counting period. 'Lag' represents the combined numeric
value of two Hebrew letters,'lamed'=30 and 'gimel'=3. On this day the
plague that had decimated Rabbi Akiva's disciples during the Second
Century C.E. came to an end. Because of the tragic events of this
period, semi-mourning is observed. On Lag B'Omer, however, marriages are
performed and other mourning observances relaxed.
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