Torah Tidbits

9 February 2012 / 16 Shevat 5772
Issue 0857
Parshat Acharei-K'doshim 5769
May 01, 2009

Parsha Points to Ponder

Parsha Points to Ponder - Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

By Rabbi Dov Lipman

1) Why does the Torah identify Aharon as Moshe’s brother when instructing Moshe to teach the strict laws regarding the kohanim and not entering the holy of holies (16:2)?

2) Why does the Torah teach not to perform acts like the LAND OF EGYPT and THE LAND OF CANAAN instead of focusing on the people who lived in those lands (18:3)?

3) Why does the Torah say USHMARTEM ATEM which essentially means AND YOU SHOULD GUARD YOU when concluding the laws of immoral relationships (18:26)?


Suggested Answers: Ponder the questions first, then read here

1) The Kli Yakar answers that G-D was emphasizing that Moshe should not think that his close familial relationship with his brother would protect Aharon if he entered the holy of holies at an improper time and/or way.

2) Rav Dovid Feinstein suggests that the Torah is teaching the root cause of the moral depravity of the people in Egypt and Canaan and, by extension, every- where in the world throughout history. It is the land, itself. If the land is very fertile, as it was in Egypt and Canaan at the time, then this tends to lead the people to living self-indulging lives including immorality. Thus, we should not act in the way that the LAND OF EGYPT and the LAND OF CANAAN led its inhabitants to act.

3) The Ohr HaChayim explains that these mitzvot are so important that the Torah wanted to emphasize that we not only should make sure that we observe them but that the Beit Din and the leaders should do whatever they can to make sure that others do so as well. The extra ATEM is directed to them.

Parsha Points to Ponder is prepared by Rabbi Dov Lipman, who teaches at Reishit Yerushalayim, Tiferet, and Machon Maayan in Beit Shemesh and RBS and is the author of “DISCOVER: Answers for Teenagers (and adults) to Questions about the Jewish Faith”, just re-published by Feldheim, (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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