The name of the Parshah, “Acharei Mot,” means “after the death of” and it is found in Leviticus 16:1. The name of the Parshah, “Kedoshim,” means “holy [ones]” and it is found in Leviticus 19:2.
Following the deaths of
Nadav and Avihu,
G‑d warns against unauthorized entry “into the holy.” Only one person, the
kohen gadol (“high priest”), may, but once a year, on
Yom Kippur, enter the
innermost chamber in the
Sanctuary to offer the sacred
ketoret to G‑d.
Another feature of the Day of Atonement service is the
casting of lots over two goats, to determine which should be offered to G‑d and which should be dispatched to carry off the
sins of
Israel to the wilderness.
The
Parshah of Acharei also warns against bringing
korbanot (animal or meal offerings) anywhere but in the
Holy Temple, forbids the consumption of
blood, and details the laws prohibiting incest and other deviant
sexual relations.
The Parshah of
Kedoshim begins with the statement: “You shall be
holy, for I, the L‑rd your G‑d, am holy.” This is followed by dozens of
mitzvot (divine commandments) through which the
Jew sanctifies him- or herself and relates to the holiness of G‑d.
These include: the prohibition against
idolatry, the mitzvah of
charity, the principle of
equality before the law,
Shabbat, sexual morality,
honesty in business,
honor and awe of one’s parents, and the
sacredness of life.
Also in Kedoshim is the dictum which the great sage
Rabbi Akiva called a cardinal principle of
Torah, and of which
Hillel said, “
This is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary”—“
Love your fellow as yourself.”
Learn:
Acharei-Kedoshim in Depth
Browse:
Acharei-Kedoshim Parshah Columnists
Prep:
Devar Torah Q&A for Acharei-Kedoshim
Read:
Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play:
Acharei-Kedoshim Parshah Quiz
