Kedoshim: Resources For Parshat Kedoshim
Leviticus chs. 19-20
Beyond the reporter mentality
All too many times we find ourselves disinterested in those around us, unable to express true empathy or true understanding, assuming a "reporter" mentatlity to the people and events happening in our lives. But, the Torah demands otherwise. See how the reporter mentality and its ills appear in this week's Torah reading.
Added: 26 Nisan 5771 | 29 Apr 2011
Audio Lecture: The Redemption of Natural Consciousness
When Jews plant fruit trees in the Land of Israel, the fruits are forbidden for the first three years and are referred to as orlah, which literally means “foreskin.” The fruit of the fourth year must be taken to Jerusalem, where it is to be eaten in purity and with praise of God. Only the fruit of the fifth year may be eaten freely in any location. God promises that if this commandment is kept, He will shower abundance upon the Jewish People.
The Ten Commandments in Parshat Kedoshim
On the words “Speak to the entire congregation of Israel,” Rashi writes: “This teaches us that this parshah was spoken at Hakhel [a great gathering of the entire Jewish people], because most of the corpus of the Torah depends on it.” Rashi’s commentary is based on the Midrash Rabbah, which also compares the content of our parshah with the Ten Commandments. Various other commentaries (like the Ibn Ezra, Nachmanides, and the Chizkunee) bring the full correspondence between the commandments in our parshah and the Ten Commandments, though each has his own variation (apparently based on the reading of the Midrash Rabbah that they had before them).
