Nowadays many people are put off when the Torah talks about ‘purity’ and ‘impurity’ because they think it has something to do with cleanliness or dirt. But that’s simply not so. You can be the cleanest, purest person in the world, bathe in a tub of disinfectant and still be ‘impure.’ The Hebrew word Tahor or Tamey often translated misleadingly…
Sefer Vayikra
Childbirth
Much in the part of the Torah we read this week, sounds antiquated and obscure to most of us. The main theme is about unusual states of bodies, diseases and infections that affect humans, but clothes and buildings as well. The Torah describes the process of calling in the Cohen, who often served as the medical expert, to evaluate the…
Sin Offering
After giving birth, and having a period of recuperation, the mother brings a sin offering. Many commentators wonder why? What did she do wrong? And some suggest she may have cursed in her pain or sworn never to go through it again. But there is another way of looking at this. Giving birth is so important and so significant for…
Circumcision
We know about circumcision from Avraham’s circumcising his two sons. Also from the failure of Moses to circumcise his son that nearly caused his death. But here we have the actual law stated as part of the constitution, rather than through a narrative. Why is circumcision such fundamental law and why is there no female equivalent in Judaism? Once again…
Nadav & Avihu
Aaron’s two elder sons, Nadav and Avihu were participating in the ceremony of the dedication of the Tabernacle. It was the inauguration of the ceremonial role of the priests and the final reconciliation of everyone after the Golden Calf rebellion. It’s the finale of the ceremonials. The sacrificial rituals were performed and fire came from the sky, struck like lightening…
Comforting Aaron
The two sons of Aaron, his putative successors, were burnt to death at the Altar. They had seen their father bring incense and then they decided without his permission to imitate him. All kinds of different reasons are given to explain why they did it. Some positive and others are negative. Moses then tries to comfort the devastated Aaron by…