Torah in Ten: Kedoshim

Autoplay Next

Torah in Ten: Kedoshim

Topics include: A homiletic interpretation of the mitzvah to leave the corners of the field unharvested, the beard as a symbol for the flow of Divine blessing, one reason why a person's soul might reincarnate as an animal.

Topics:

Acharei-Kedoshim, Kedoshim

By Chaim Miller

Rabbi Chaim Miller is the author of the Gutnick Chumash published by Kol Menachem, New York. To purchase the Chumash click here.

More in this section

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

3 Comments

David Sugarman May 12, 2019

The first interpretation of any story, commandment or message, must be literal. If it then doesn't make any sense, or is arbitrary or pointless, then it must be taken symbolically.

Lev 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
(Similar to the arbitrary law concerning tzitzis)

Ten verses prior is the literal form
Lev 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corner of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest. 19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God. [leave it for the gleaners, the poor].

Furthermore, symbolic interpretations have far more generality than literal ones.
For instance, the greedy landlord is thereby enjoined to give enough heat in the winter, even though it's rent-controlled and losing money. Reply

Leah May 10, 2016

Thank you ! Beautiful !
Love this ! Reply

Anonymous Texas December 23, 2015

Great video Great video. Thanks for creating it. Reply