Archive for the Kedoshim Category

In the latter part of the Parsha the Torah enumerates the various forbidden relationships and their punishments.  Towards the end of this list the Torah states:  “A man who takes his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness,

Parshas Kedoshim is replete with Mitzvos that teach about interpersonal relationships.  Towards the end of this section, the Torah instructs us:  “Do not hate[1] your friend in your heart, rebuke your friend, do not bear upon him sin”.[2]  There are a number of questions on this verse:  Firstly, why does the Torah

The Talmud (Sotah 14a) instructs us in the Mitzvah of imitating God in all His ways. Just as God clothes the naked, visits the sick, comforts mourners and buries the dead, so should you emulate His example. Maimonides (Mourning 14:1) mentions all the above Mitzvot, but gives

Are all men created equal? At Mount Sinai, God described the Jewish People as a holy nation (Shemot 19:6). But it sounds too difficult and lofty a concept for us to handle. How do we attain holiness? A Torah portion with the name “Kedoshim,” which means “holy,”

Respect Leads to Kedusha The very first mitzva that is mentioned after the mitzva of Kedoshim Tihiyu is to fear parents. The Rosh Yeshiva zt”l explained that if one is to have any kind of kesher to Kavayachol, respect for one’s parents is vital. We must know

(November 22) After 22 years in the haredi world, I still view the society around me with a certain split vision. I participate as a member of the community, yet from time to time I catch myself stepping back and imagining how all this would appear to

Three points: Definition of Kadosh – Rashi and Ramban. Revenge and bearing a grudge. Love your neighbor as yourself. Introduction: Rashi tells us that this part of the Torah is unique in so much that it was given to everyone together – bihakial. Why? Because many Torah

Flying High As I sit down to write these thoughts, the Barnett brood is flying on Israel’s national carrier, El Al to the States. The overhead monitor indicates that we just reached Rome, Aryeh Shalom has settled down in a neat baby basinet hooked into the bulkhead

19:2 Rashi writes that “you should be holy” means separated from illicit relations and from sin since that everywhere you find a fence versus lewdness you find holiness. Thus the matter of holiness is separation from illicit relations. It appears that this was also the Rambam’s intention, Hilchos Daos 5:4, when he wrote

Based on Rav Noah Weinberg “Love your neighbor like yourself. I am G-d” (P. 603, line 18) A story is told of a kingdom many years ago. A terrible crime was committed within its walls and a man was accused, arrested and sent to prison, as it