The book of Vayikra ends with one of the most terrifying passages in literature. It describes what will happen to the Israelites if, having made their covenant with G-d, they break its terms: “If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, then in [...]
This week’s sedra outlines the festivals that give rhythm and structure to the Jewish year. Examining them carefully, however, we see that Sukkot is unusual, unique. One detail which had a significant influence on Jewish liturgy appears later on in the book of Deuteronomy: “Be joyful at your Feast . . . For seven days [...]
“On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins” (Lev. 16: 30). On the holiest day of the year, the Day of Atonement, the holiest of people, the High Priest, entered the holiest of places, the Holy of Holies, and [...]
Advances in medical technology such as in vitro fertilisation have raised complex ethical and legal questions. In the case of surrogacy for example - where the ovum comes from one woman, but the fertilised embryo is carried to term by another – who is the mother? On the one hand, the donor mother from whom [...]
It should have been the great day of celebration. The tabernacle – Israel’s first collective house of worship – was complete. All preparations had been made. For seven days, Moses had performed the inauguration. Now, the eighth day – the first of Nisan – had arrived. The priests, led by Aaron, were ready to begin their [...]
Among the sacrifices detailed in this week’s sedra is the korban todah, the thanksgiving offering: “If he offers it [the sacrifice] as a thanksgiving offering, then along with this thanksgiving offering he is to offer unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and loaves of fine flour well-kneaded and mixed with oil.” (Lev. [...]
Vayikra is about sacrifices, and though these laws have been inoperative for almost 2000 years since the destruction of the Temple, the moral principles they embody are still challenging. One set of sacrifices, set out in detail in this week’s sedra, warrants particular attention: hattat, the ‘sin offering’. Four different cases are considered: the [...]