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“And none of your children shall you give to pass through to Molech, and you shall not profane the name of Hashem.” (18:21)

Horav Shamson Raphael Hirsch Zt”l remarks that after careful consideration of the various laws connected with the abominable service of the Molech, we may come to the conclusion that we are not dealing with an ordinary form of idol-worship. This is not merely a defection from Hashem to idolatry, but rather an aberration which introduces idolatrous ideas and concepts into the sphere of worshipping Hashem. Thus, this act profanes His Name. One who worships idols leaves Hashem and His Sanctuary and turns to others. The Molech worshipper foolishly thinks that he remains within the sphere of Hashem and His Sanctuary….

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“And you shall keep My statutes and My judicial ordinances, which, if a man will fulfill them he will gain life through them (18:5).” – “And you shall keep My charge so that you do not do any of the abominable customs.”(18:30)

The second half of the first pasuk contains the motivation for the command in the first half. One must fulfill Hashem’s imperatives in order to gain life. These chukim (statutes) and mishpatim (judicial ordinances) are the very essence of the Torah. In order to continually translate them into practical reality, we must indeed guard them. We fulfill our duty for guarding the Torah only by living up to the following two demands: to study Torah and not to transgress.   One must always be aware of Chazal’s statement: o,rnau vban uz – If one desires to be the guardian of…

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“And Aharon shall place lots upon the two he-goats, one lot for Hashem, and one lot for Azazel.” (16:8)

The ritual of the Yom Kippur sacrificial service has served as a paradigm of nobility and splendor. Its symbolic interpretation and resolution is veiled in secrecy and ambiguity. Especially notable is the ritual of the two he-goats. While one goat is offered as a sacrifice, its blood sprinkled in the Sanctuary, the other is sent away into the wilderness, bearing the sins of the people. These two goats are to be purchased at the same time and are to be identical in appearance, size, and value. Everything is the same – except their ultimate fate.   The two goats represent…

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