Parshat Shavua

The strangest and most dramatic element of the service on Yom Kippur, set out in Acharei Mot, was the ritual of the two goats, one offered as a sacrifice, the other sent away into the desert “to Azazel.”

In this week's Torah reading, why begin the description of the Avoda on Yom Kippur with telling us of the demise of the sons of Aaron?

Moses had to contend with both sides, inducing the Israelites to do teshuvah and God to exercise forgiveness. The good news is: there once was a Moses. what happens when there is no Moses?

Why does only the Land of Israel "regurgitate its inhabitants" who break Torah laws that are forbidden no matter where one lives?

A well known Rabbinic adage emerges from the succession of the next 3 Torah portions: Acharei Mot, Kedoshim, Emor – “after their death, they say Holy!” That is, as soon as you are gone, they talk about how holy you were! But there is yet another spin we can give to this phrase by slightly moving the comma: After the death of the righteous, speak!

One question which has challenged Judaism throughout the ages is why do we need so many commandments to fulfill our obligation to be good, kind, and faithful?

A short video connecting the Parasha to the land of Israel.

In this week's Torah reading of "Acharei Mot", we're being warned not to engage in incest and adultery because the Canaanites who did so before us, are being thrown out of the land. On the other hand, other lands will tolerate it even though it is forbidden.

A Shiur by Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed for the weekly portion "Acharei Mot- Kedoshim".