Kedoshim

In the famous 19th chapter of Vayikra, which is a summary of many essential principles of the Torah, the laws about fruit-trees are stated. The produce of the first three years of the tree’s life (orlah) is forbidden. The fourth year produce (neta revai) ...

This Torah reading contains the command, “Love your fellow man as yourself.” Seemingly, this is demanding the impossible. We care for others only to the extent that we perceive a common denominator, but that common denominator affects only a limited part ...

Adapted fromLikkutei Sichos, Vol. I, p. 254ff; Vol. XII, p. 91ff;Sichos Shabbos Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim, 5745 Is There Any Gray? When many people start thinking about a religious code, they almost automatically envision a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts.” Def...

Forbidden Fruit Parshas Kedoshim mentions the prohibition against orlah, which forbids benefitting from the fruit of a tree for the first three years after it is planted. This prohibition applies even if such a tree becomes confused with ordinary trees. T...

Introduction Rambam begins chapter 7 of Hilchos Beis HaBechirah by stating the command to revere the Beis HaMikdash. He then clarifies that, “It is not the [Beis Ha]Mikdash itself that you are to revere, but rather the One Who gave directives concerning t...

Introduction It was a common scene in the small villages in Poland in the early 1700’s. A cheerful young man would greet Jews in the marketplace, asking them about their health and their livelihood. When they would respond with praise for G‑d – with Baruc...

Introduction We are all familiar with the classic story of the prospective convert whom Hillel told, “What is hateful to you do not do to your friend. This is the entire Torah; the rest is commentary. Now go and learn.” Beautiful as that story is, it rais...

The seventh section of the Book of Leviticus continues the theme of the preceding section. The Jewish people, having been made into “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” at the Giving of the Torah, must adhere to a specific code of conduct in order to ...

We learn in the Torah portion of Kedoshim:Vayikra 19:35-36. “Do not falsify measurements, whether in length, weight or volume. You must have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure.” The Gemara explainsBava M...

Two Forms of Ahavas Yisrael One of the commandments in the portion of Kedoshim is Ahavas Yisrael — loving one’s fellow as one loves oneself.Vayikra 19:18. There are two famous comments regarding this command. R. Akiva said: “This is an important principal...