6 May 2017 10 Iyar 5777 ends London 9.27pm 8.02pm

Volume 29 No. 32 Acharei-Mot

Artscroll p.636 p.1173 Hertz p.480 Haftarah p.509 Soncino p.705 Haftarah p.735

In memory of Harav Uri ben hechaver Naftali

"When you shall come to the Land and you shall plant any food tree, you shall treat its fruit as forbidden; for three years… In the fourth year, all its fruit shall be sanctified to praise God. And on the fifth year you may eat its fruit – so that it will increase its crop for you – I am the Lord your God" 1 ( 19:23-25). Sidrah Summary: -Kedoshim

1st Aliya () – 16:1-24 parents and to observe Shabbat. Offerings need God speaks to Moshe after the death of two of to be eaten within their designated time. When Aharon’s sons (recorded in parashat ). harvesting one’s field or vineyard, certain produce Moshe is told to warn Aharon, the Kohen Gadol, needs to be left over for paupers to take free of not to enter the (Kodesh charge. One may not place a stumbling block in Hakodashim) area of the Mishkan (), front of a blind person. except on . The sidrah now details the 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 19:15-32 Yom Kippur service in the Mishkan: Aharon will A judge is not allowed to favour any litigant. It is have to bring a bull as a chatat (sin offering) and forbidden to harbour hatred or to seek revenge. a ram as an olah (elevation offering). The people You shall “love your fellow as yourself”. Eating the will provide two male . Aharon must place fruit of a tree during the first three years of growth lots on the two goats, designating one to be a is forbidden. In its fourth year, the fruit has to be chatat and the other to be thrown off a cliff in eaten in Jerusalem. It is forbidden to cut one’s the wilderness. Inside the Kodesh Hakodashim, skin in mourning. There is a to stand up Aharon will bring an incense offering (ketoret). He in the presence of a scholar and an elderly will also sprinkle blood from the various offerings person. in specific areas of the Mishkan. Point to Consider: what did Akiva 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 16:25-17:7 comment on the mitzvah to “love your fellow as The are commanded to fast on Yom yourself”? (see to 19:18) Kippur. When Yom Kippur arrives, Aharon does Question: which three ‘mixtures’ are prohibited in exactly as commanded by God. His special verse 19:19? Answer on bottom of page 6. service is to be repeated every year by future 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 19:33-20:7 incumbents of his office. It is forbidden to bring an animal offering anywhere other than the One must have accurate scales, weights and Mishkan. measures. There was a severe prohibition against giving one’s children over to an ancient cult called 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 17:8-18:21 ‘Molech’. It is forbidden to consume the blood of any 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 20:8-27 animal (Rashi). After doing shechita (slaughter) Cursing one’s parents is forbidden. The on kosher fowl or non-domesticated animals, punishments for the forbidden relationships there is a mitzvah to cover the blood. The laws of detailed in the 3rd aliya (Shlishi) are listed. forbidden relationships are listed, such as with Keeping the laws of will enable us to close relatives, or with another’s spouse. remain a distinct and distinguished nation. (Revi’i) 4th Aliya – 18:22-19:14 Haftarah The nation’s well-being in the Land is dependent The prophet Amos rebukes Israel for being no upon adhering to the laws about forbidden better than the Pelishtim (Philistine) nation. Those relationships. who were particularly sinful will suffer the harshest [This week’s second sidrah, Kedoshim, contains punishment. But once they have died by the many mitzvot, a selection of which has been sword, the Davidic kingdom will return and the included here]. We are commanded to revere our Land will be rebuilt.

United Synagogue Daf Hashavua Produced by US Living & Learning together with the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue Editor: Rabbi Chaim Gross Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Editorial Team: Ilana Epstein, Michael Laitner, Sharon Radley Available also via email US website www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue To sponsor Daf Hashavua please contact Loraine Young on 020 8343 5653, or [email protected] If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email [email protected]

2 Solutions in the Sidrah: 1984 by Rabbi Yoni Birnbaum, Hadley Wood Jewish Community

One of the most famous mitzvot. It does not subscribe to the notion of a British novels of the ‘holier class’ that has greater responsibilities in 20th century was George life due to any inherent superiority. Instead, the Orwell’s 1984, published in responsibility to seek ‘holiness’ in life is shared 1949. Interestingly, the name equally, and is accessible to all those who itself was not Orwell’s dedicate themselves to it. For instance, the preferred choice. He had priestly caste of Kohanim had particular duties in intended to call his book the area of Temple service. But the Alshich ‘The Last Man in Europe’, because the central reminds us that when any group believes that character in the story, Winston, is the only person they are ‘holier’ than all others because of their left alive with the freedom to think. Everyone particular responsibilities, something has gone else is completely enslaved to ‘Big Brother’, very badly wrong. the ruling Party which governs every aspect of people’s lives and minds. Eventually even Explaining the essence of the Party to Winston in Winston himself succumbs; he even comes to Orwell’s 1984, O’Brian, the protagonist of the ‘love’ Big Brother. 1984 is an eerie and chilling story, declares that, “The Party seeks power work, especially in the context of the post-war entirely for its own sake, we are interested in environment in which it was written. power, pure power… power is not a means it is an end… Now you begin to understand me”. There is an underlying tension highlighted by the novel. On the one hand, a proper form of The opening words of Kedoshim provide a government is essential for society to function. powerful polemic against this terrifying elitist Complete individualism may sound wonderful, ideology: “Speak to the entire assembly of but it creates anarchy. the Children of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy!” does not seek to Yet on the other hand, a unified community may demote or overpower anyone – we all have carry the threat of totalitarianism, in which even opportunities to become holy. thinking differently is a form of subversion to the aims and ideals of the state. That is Orwell’s warning - a caution against allowing the state to become all powerful.

How can a state be prevented from becoming totalitarian? How can individual liberty be preserved, whilst the state fulfils its duty to help society function peacefully?

Parashat Kedoshim opens with the famous injunction, “You shall be holy!” (Vayikra 19:2). Notably, before this injunction, the Torah states that “the entire assembly of the Children of Israel” must be present to hear these words. According to Rabbi (d. 1593), this is in order to emphasise that Judaism does not believe in the concept of a two-tier system within

In memory of Harav Zvi ben Aryeh 3 Dimensions of Holiness by Rabbi Nick Kett, Assistant Rabbi, Hale Synagogue

This week’s double sidrah we developed the custom of reciting the famous contains 79 mitzvot, statement of the Talmudic sage Rabbi Chanania representing 13% of all ben Akashia at the end of public Torah study (see the mitzvot in the Torah. green siddur p. 528). He teaches that the reason In terms of ratio of verses for the all-encompassing scope of mitzvot is to to mitzvot mentioned, provide with opportunities to earn merit, parashat Kedoshim, the and to strengthen our connection to God in the second of the sidrot, is World to Come. In fact, even things that we do the densest sidrah in the entire Torah. intuitively will be rewarded.

The opening lines of Kedoshim tell us to “be Imagine an employee who was handed a long list holy” (Vayikra 19:2). Holiness in Judaism does of tasks and responsibilities, which would ensure not mean to withdraw and refrain from worldly the success of the firm and guarantee a pleasures. We are entitled to enjoy the finer promotion in the future. The employee may be things in life. The Ramban ( d. forgiven for deciding not to take advantage of the 1270) writes that we can in fact achieve holiness opportunity. However, we would have little by enjoying worldly pleasures in moderation. sympathy if that person decided to do the Holiness therefore has a different slant; it means precise opposite of the things written on the list, to set ourselves apart for a special relationship putting the company at significant risk of failure with God. This manifests itself in three key areas, and insolvency. Surely, the employee would be all of which are included in the sidrah, and have fired for such behaviour. numerous mitzvot connected to them. The three key areas are the holiness of time, the holiness Our Divine ‘CEO’ has recommended a lifestyle, of space and the holiness of people. which, if adhered to, will strengthen our relationship with Him and ensure our spiritual We can understand the holiness of time through growth and success. The rest is up to us. the mitzvah of Shabbat. One day of every seven is more elevated than the other days, and is set apart for connecting to God. The holiness of space is manifest through the Land of Israel, which is holier than all the other countries in the world. Many mitzvot can only be performed in Israel and there are so many miraculous stories, both biblical and modern, that took place in the Land. The holiness of people is manifest in the Jewish nation (see Shemot 19:5), who therefore have a concurrent responsibility to bring holiness to the world through their actions.

Occasionally, having so many mitzvot as we do in this week’s double sidrah may make some people feel stifled by the way Jewish law covers every aspect of everyday life. Perhaps this is why

In memory of Harav ben Moreinu Harav Shlomo HaKohen 4 Parallel Thinking Part 21: The Formation of Life by Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman, New West End United Synagogue

If one reflects for a moment likely that scientists will eventually be able to on the composition of living explain how inorganic atoms and molecules can things, a puzzle may soon transform into organic structures which go on to develop. How can life produce self-replicating cells. But does that really emerge from the sterile, answer the question of how life emerged from a inanimate building blocks particular arrangement of lifeless component that are the foundation of all parts? physical things? A carbon atom is not alive, but the same carbon atoms that One scientist that shaped my own interest in this make up a lump of coal also help to form a question was medical journalist Dr. James Le human being; for it is these very same carbon Fanu. He highlights the difference between a atoms which make up organic compounds such mechanism by which something works and as amino-acids, the building blocks of life. understanding the essence of that thing: “Much of the prestige of science lies in its ability The American chemist Stanley Miller (d. 2007) to link together disparate observations to reveal and his colleague Nobel laureate Harold Urey (d. the processes that underpin them. But this does 1981) became famous for producing amino- not mean that science ‘captures’ the phenomena acids from inorganic substances through an it describes – far from it”. Life is more than the experiment which used electrical sparks to mimic mere ability to self-replicate. lightning in the early atmosphere, together with water vapour and the atmospheric gases likely to Rabbi Meir Leibush Wisser (known as the have been present on primordial Earth. From this Malbim, d. 1879) notes that the Torah describes he successfully produced many types of amino- vegetation, sea-creatures and animals coming acids. This gave rise to the idea that life on Earth forth from the land and the water (Bereishit 1:11, emerged from a ‘primordial soup’, made up of 20 and 24). He explains that this means they these amino acids. were formed from pre-existent physical matter. Yet in addition, God created them ex nihilo – from Yet there is a snag. Science journalist Claire nothing (Malbim on Bereishit 1:24). Though Ainsworth explained that while the Miller science is still struggling to come to terms with experiment still “holds a great deal of water… the beginnings of life on Earth, our Sages details remain sketchy. It is still unclear, for approached the question of Creation by example, how a primordial soup of simple proposing two complementary components for molecules could give rise to today's system of life. These distinct creations are physical form DNA and proteins”. Ainsworth explains that while and spiritual essence. One is natural and DNA produce amino-acids which are the building spontaneous, the other a gift from God, but both blocks of protein, it is these very proteins which are essential for life. facilitate the reactions which replicate the DNA. She explains: “It is a classic chicken-and-egg problem”. Furthermore, she points out that a sufficient concentration of amino acids is necessary in order to meet one another and react.

There are theories which address these points. While there is much more work to be done, it is

In memory of Harav Shlomo ben Moreinu Harav Zvi Hersh 5 Insights into Jewish History Part 70: The Mounting Gezeirot by Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein, Cockfosters & N Southgate United Synagogue; Head of Project Development, US Living & Learning

There is an old custom Seeing that, to some extent, the Jews were amongst some Chasidic managing to cope with the invasion of their Jews in Jerusalem to light a privacy, the Greeks issued a further decree. The candle at a . Since husband of any woman found going to the mikvah a brit can only be performed would be killed by the sword, and anyone who did during the day, but not at not report seeing a woman going to the mikvah night, what is the purpose of would be imprisoned and sold into slavery. Many this candle? Jews responded by digging mikvahs in the cellars of their homes. The custom dates back to when Judea was subject to the “Gezeirot Yavan” – the evil decrees Megillat Ta’anit (an Aramaic document) reports of the Greeks. For the first time, Jewish practice two ingenious tactics employed by the Perushim was systematically attacked and punished in the to indicate that there would be a brit in the coming most severe of ways. week. In the village of Biriah, it was the sound of a mill running; in the village of Bror Chail, it was The Hellenised Jews had a custom to make the sight of a candle in the daytime, or too many wreaths of roses and hang them on the entrances candles at night. to their homes, shops and communal areas. At these locations, they would sing to their pagan The Tosafists (prominent medieval commentators) gods and would inscribe denunciations of God on in Megillat Ta’anit state that the custom to light a the horns of their domestic . Any Jews who candle at a brit is in remembrance of a time when did not follow suit would have their cattle, and circumcising a child was punishable by death. thus their livelihood, confiscated. This has been preserved to this day in Jerusalem.

The traditional Jews, known as the “Perushim” Though the decrees kept mounting, the Jews (Pharisees), became isolated. Public areas where kept looking for ways to practice. However, as pagan gods were worshipped would have every instance of transgression was met with revolted them. As well as being financially at a death, many Jews went into hiding, while others loss, the Munich “Codex Hebraicus 95” (an early gave in. complete manuscript of the Babylonian ) relates that a further demoralising decree was passed. Doors were not permitted to have locks and anyone could enter anyone else’s house any time of day or night. All privacy was gone and the ability to practice religion in private ceased. Subsequently, doors to homes were removed altogether. However, a small miracle ensued; since houses had no doors, animals such as deer, rams and birds would enter the homes, so that the Perushim could easily catch and slaughter the Antiochus IV Epiphanes

animals for their food.

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mixtures and wearing a garment with wool and wool with garment a wearing and mixtures Answer: Cross-breeding animals, planting seed planting animals, Cross-breeding Answer:

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