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Home -> 5752 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Acharei Mos, 5752

“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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Home -> 5752 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Acharei Mos, 5752

“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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Home -> 5751 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Acharei Mos, 5751

“Like the behavior of the land of Egypt, wherein you dwelt, you shall not do, and like the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do, neither shall you walk in their statutes.” (18:3)

The Torah in its moral code clearly defines that which is proper and moral, as opposed to that which is decadent and immoral. Society is always in flux, and that which was considered immoral and degenerate is no longer regarded as wrong and reprehensible. Intellectuals are constantly expounding new perspectives and outlooks on morality. The Torah here enjoins us to categorically reject the morals and way of life of the society wherein we live when they are antithetical to the Torah. We are admonished not to imitate the “doings of the land of Egypt or Canaan” even if this is…

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Home -> 5751 -> Acharei Mos

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Acharei Mos, 5751

“And you shall not give any of your seed, to set them apart to the Molech. And you shall not profane the name of your G-d.” (18:21)

The Ramban is of the opinion that the depravity of worshipping this idol was so great, that people would actually pass their child through the fires of the Molech, until the child died. Accordingly, the meaning of Chilul Hashem may be understood. What greater desecration of Hashem’s Name is there than by one who believes that by offering his child as a sacrifice to an idol, his house will be blessed by this same idol! The Sforno suggests an even stronger understanding of Chilul Hashem. He says that when one offers animals to Hashem, but then offers his child to…

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