Tucked in amongst the legislation is the command “Al Tonoo” 25.14. The Talmud derives from this the laws of Ona’ah. Literally not to oppress people. And the Talmud divided this Torah principle into two separate issues. Ona’ah meant taking advantage of people in business. Where you knew that they needed something, you had to avoid taking advantage either by overcharging,…
Sefer Vayikra
Hillul HaShem
In talking about the priests, the Torah keeps on repeating the word Hillul. Some translate this a desecration, humiliation, demeaning or vilifying. It is the opposite of sanctifying, making holy, glorifying. It is used first of a daughter of a priest who acts immorally. She betrays her position and her father and is punished accordingly because even members of a…
What Do We Learn From the Priests?
The Priests of old, had to be in a constant state of ritual purity. So that whenever they were called upon to perform in the Tabernacle or Temple they would be ready. Purity had nothing to do with what we call cleanliness. You might be covered in mud from tip to toe and still be “impure” or more accurately, “unprepared.”…
Festivals
Here the Torah amplifies the function and ceremonial of the festivals that were first mentioned in Exodus. As before all special days are called “Moadim” occasions. And as before the first “holy Day” is Shabbat. Many Jews give priority to festivals over Shabbat. But in fact, in terms of priorities. It ought to be the other way round. After Pesach…
Alienation
There is a sad story this week in the Torah of a young man whose mother was Israelite but whose father was Egyptian. He had been welcomed into the children of Israel based on his mother’s status and left Egypt with them. But when it came to which tribe he belonged to, he did not fit in anywhere. Tribes were…
Cursing
There is a reference in this week’s reading to cursing. The story of the boy who cursed God contains two elements. One is the obvious crime of publicly rejecting, attacking and demeaning God. The other is what do we mean by a curse? The Torah forbids cursing whether it is God, parents, princes, judges or even the deaf. The opposite,…