Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

Following the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, God warns against unauthorized entry “into the holy.” Only one person, the Kohen Gadol (“high priest”), may, once a year, on Yom Kippur, enter the innermost chamber in the Sanctuary to offer the sacred ketoret to God.

Another feature of the Day of Atonement service is the casting of lots over two goats to determine which should be offered to God and which should be dispatched to carry off the sins of Israel to the wilderness.

The Parshah of Acharei also warns against bringing korbanot (animal or meal offerings) anywhere but in the Holy Temple, forbids the consumption of blood, and details the laws prohibiting incest and other deviant sexual relations.

The Parshah of Kedoshim begins with the statement: “You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy”; this is followed by dozens of mitzvot (Divine commandments) through which the Jew sanctifies him or herself and relates to the holiness of God.

These include: the prohibition against idolatry, the mitzvah of charity, the principle of equality before the law, Shabbat, sexual morality, honesty in business, honor and awe of one’s parents, the sacredness of life.

Also in Kedoshim is the dictum which the great sage Rabbi Akiva called a cardinal principle of Torah and of which Hillel said, “This is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary” — Love your fellow as yourself.

(Used with permission chabad.org)