ON THE PARSHA Parshas Acharei Mos and Parshas Kedoshim by Dovid Lipman, Jerusalem ***NOTE*** For the next five weeks, some of Mitzvah Digest will be incorporated into the other departments. The World Of The Supernatural (16:17) "And no one shall be in the Sanctuary..." The gemara (Yerush. Yoma 1:5) says this includes that even angels are absent when the Kohain Gadol does the Yom Kippur service. Similarly, we find the Midrash (Sifra) says on the mitzvah 184) No Kohain may enter the sanctified areas except in order to perform the commanded Services. that this is especially meant to exclude them from the Holy of Holies, and especially on Yom Kippur. Why is everyone banished from the place of this event? A connection might be 187) One must cover the blood of a bird or wild animal after they are slaughtered. One purpose of this mitzvah is to show respect for blood, which is where the soul and body fuse. On Yom Kippur, too, the Service of the Holy of Holies is an intense meeting between the physical world, represented by the Kohain Gadol, and the higher reality of Hashem's presence. All must stand clear, to show their respect for the value of such meetings. A Time To Laugh (16:22) "And he shall send off the goat in the desert." The goat which is killed in the desert, part of the mitzvah 185) The High Priest must perform the Yom Kippur service, according to the halacha. But it seems to violate, at least in principle, the mitzvah 186) One may not offer sacrifices outside the Sanctuary. To answer this, we bring the first part of our pasuk, which says the goat carried on it the sins of all the Jews. So, if it could handle all of our sins for a year, it certainly could handle one more. Worthy Of Note (18:7) This pasuk teaches the mitzvah 189) A man may not have relations with his father. which is surprising to see, since we anyway have a mitzvah 209) A man may not have relations with another man. Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky says this shows us that Hashem doesn't give up on anybody. Even someone who has done an abominable thing, to him Hashem says, "At least THIS don't do." From the Gemara (18:11) Yevamos 22b - One can receive lashes twice, for 192) A man may not have relations with any (even half-) sister. and at the same time (for they can overlap), for transgressing 196) A man may not have relations with a daughter of his father's wife. (19:10) Makkos 15b - Though one might think that the mitzvah 217) One must leave a corner of ones field for the poor. is an independent one, it also serves to "undo" the transgression 216) One may not cut the produce of ones entire field. so the latter does not generally incur lashes. (19:15) Shevu'os 30a - When this pasuk teaches the mitzvah 235) A judge must handle a case evenly, according to his knowledge of Torah law, and, if possible, should make a settlement. it includes the requirement to judge everyone favorably. [The Chofetz Chayim says one who transgresses the mitzvah 236) One may not speak badly of others. often does so only because of judging the subject's act unfavorably.] Rare And Unusual Words (19:18) "Lo Sikom veLo Sitor". These two mitzvos, in order, mean 241) One may not do the same wrong to a person who wronged oneself fir= st. 242) One may not bear a grudge toward a person who wronged oneself. The word "Sitor", bearing a grudge, means literally to "keep", and we find that the word "keep" (Sh'mos 34:17) is rendered into Aramaic by the Targum as "Sitar". Mitzvah Digest (Overflow will be maintained over the following 5 weeks.) 188) A man may not derive pleasure, even by the slightest closeness such as hugging or kissing, from a forbidden woman. 190) A man may not have relations with his mother. 191) A man may not have relations with a woman who married his father. 193) A man may not have relations with his son's daughter. 194) A man may not have relations with his daughter's daughter. 195) A man may not have relations with his daughter. 197) A man may not have relations with his father's sister. 198) A man may not have relations with his mother's sister. 199) A man may not have relations with his father's brother. 200) A man may not have relations with his father's brother's wife. 201) A man may not have relations with his son's wife. 202) A man may not have relations with his brother's wife. 203) A man may not have relations with a woman and her daughter. 204) A man may not have relations with a woman and their son's daughter. 205) A man may not have relations with a woman and their daughter's daugh= ter. 206) A man may not have relations with the sister of his living wife. 207) A man may not approach, even to touch, a woman ("niddah") who has menstruated without afterward purifying herself acc. to the halacha. 208) One may not give over ones son or sons to be passed through fire according to the "Molech" ritual. 210) A man may not have relations with an animal. 211) A woman may not have relations with an animal.