by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 6, 2016 | Community, God, Holiness, Israel, Kedoshim
Throughout Leviticus, God commands Moses to teach the Children of Israel, or to instruct them in various commandments and rules of behavior. With this scripture, God introduces a few laws pertaining to our relationship with God, such as the Shabbat and the prohibition...
by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 28, 2016 | Acharei Mot, Good and Evil, Israel, Purity
Chapter 18 of Leviticus is seemingly a list of dos and don’ts, not unlike many of the rules of purity and impurity listed throughout Leviticus. But at closer examination, there is something different about the instructions listed here. The chapter begins with...
by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 15, 2016 | Community, Metzorah
This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest. (Leviticus 14:2) So begins a detailed description of the rituals involved with purifying someone who has been afflicted with Biblical Leprosy. The original...
by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 8, 2016 | Purity, Tazriah, Temple
This week’s portion continues the discussion of ritual purity. In last week’s portion, the instructions regarding purity revolved around various animals that are considered pure or impure. Those animals which are impure may never be eaten nor used for...
by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 1, 2016 | Antisemitism, Chosen Nation, Covenant, Free Will, God, Holiness, Purity, Shemini
This week’s portion contains one of the basic fundamentals of kosher eating – the list of animals that are permitted as well as a list of animals that are not. Chapter 11 begins: Speak to the people of Israel, saying, these are the living things that you may eat among...