Vayikra

This week's Torah reading marks the end of the book of Vayikra. It is a book about holiness, ritual holiness or Temple service, and also the holiness of human beings and human relationships.

It seems to me that the most painful part of the curse is its element of “a man … over his brother.” This is itself a great curse.

The Torah commands us to not take interest when we give a loan. We should try to revive this Mitzva and bring the Geulah.

If you're going to make up a religion, you'd better not make promises you can't keep. Parshat Behar contains a huge promise that only the Creator could make.

Har Sinai is a kind of conduit, a connector between Heaven & Earth. It’s message is that every act we perform, every Mitzva we keep, reverberates & impacts both above & below.

Life is never an easy climb, but climb it we must, to be able to stand at its peak, and truly observe life in society in a measured and wise way.

Judaism has no class system. We are all God’s children, all precious in His sight, each with a contribution to make to the common good.

Shemitta is special in its requiring great faith in Hashem to fulfill, in essence relying upon a miracle. This mitzva comes with a promise that Hashem will decree a unique blessing in the sixth year to sustain us until the produce of that which is sown in the eighth year is ready for harvest.

The conviction that being a Jew involves the pursuit of justice and the practice of compassion is what led our ancestors to stay loyal to Judaism despite all the pressures to abandon it.

Not every kohen was necessarily fit for the task, nor did he live up to the responsibilities of the priesthood. However, as a group it is obvious the family of Aaron is deservedly held in high regard throughout Jewish society.