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Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30 This study of the weekly parsha is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Mordechai and Mrs. Augusta Litman, may they rest in peace. Pesach has concluded, but the message of the Festival of Freedom has not. In this week's parsha we are warned by Hashem not to become entangled with the defilements of the former residents of Eretz Canaan. Hashem said, "Do not defile yourselves in any one of these [ways], for in all of these [ways] the nations have defiled [those] that I am driving away from before you." The defilement, the abominations, the sins of the nations were generally of a sexual nature. These sins defiled the land of Yisroel. 1.) "No man among you shall approach anyone near of kin to uncover nakedness." Leviticus 18:6 2.) The prohibition of perversion with one's father. Leviticus 18:7 Before we proceed into the next twenty prohibitions it is important to understand the full intent of the prohibition. Hashem established boundaries for men living within Eretz Yisroel. The observance of these prohibitions makes the Land of Yisroel a very special place. Those that suggest that the Tenach {The Old Testament} is completed fail to understand that the observance of these prohibitions written within the Torah are what make Eretz Yisroel "SEPARATED". The observance of these prohibitions make Eretz Yisroel the Holy land that it is! If they are discarded, if there is a failure to observe them, then the land in Israel loses its separated status! Its land is no longer different from the land in the rest of the world! Now having said this, it is important to understand the degree of holiness that Hashem intended for Eretz Yisroel. When Hashem stated in the following twenty prohibitions that certain women were prohibited to men, the intent was greater than just physical relations. The intent was that a man living in Eretz Yisroel was NOT to receive any form of pleasure from the women forbidden to him in marriage. Our sages state that a man should not make any sort of gesture with eyes, lips, hands, feet, voice, etc. for the purpose of attracting a woman forbidden to him. He should not engage in any form of levity like joining in laughter, or enjoying a woman's fragrance, gazing at her clothing, or gazing at her hair, or gazing into the face of a bride. He should not receive any form of pleasure from her voice, including singing... Now these prohibitions may seem ancient. THEY ARE! Yet it is because many Jewish men living in Eretz Yisroel observe these prohibitions that Eretz Yisroel is holy. One MUST UNDERSTAND that holiness requires separation. Holiness is separation. Hashem is Holy! The Jewish people are holy! Eretz Yisroel is holy! It is our observance of the Torah that separates us, that makes us holy! Now let's define the women that a man is forbidden to receive any pleasure from as well as other prohibitions:
We have just reviewed twenty three prohibitions. Twenty-two are of a sexual nature. One should note that these prohibitions apply ONLY IN THE LAND OF ERETZ YISROEL. The purpose of these twenty-three prohibitions is to separate the land of Yisroel from the other lands in the world. The land of Yisroel MUST BE HOLY, SEPARATED! Hashem dwells within the land of Yisroel in the Bais HaMikdosh. Moshe Rabbeinu's father, Amram, married his father's {Levi} sister {his aunt}, Yocheved, in Mitzriam. Avraham Aveinu married his half sister outside of Eretz Canaan then moved there. Yaakov Aveinu married four sisters, two sisters and a half sister of each sister, all outside of Eretz Canaan, then moved to Eretz Canaan. So from this we learn that these twenty-three commands are designed to be observed to separate Eretz Yisroel from the other lands of the world. That is why Eretz Yisroel is referred to as "THE HOLY LAND." It is separated unto Hashem! It is not holy because Jesus walked there. Only one of the above twenty-three prohibitions is considered part of the Seven Noaich Commands given to Noach by Hashem. Even though these twenty-three acts are considered vile by many nations and other religions, Hashem did not forbid twenty-two of these acts in His Seven Noaich Commands to the nations of the world! Hashem forbade these acts to Jews living in Eretz Yisroel! The point is that Hashem raised the standard of living for Eretz Yisroel. Hashem raised the standard of holiness JUST for Eretz Yisroel. Before B'nei Yisroel entered Eretz Canaan they were taught about these new standards. They were instructed, "After the practice of the Land of Mitzriam in which you have lived, you shall not do, and the practice of the Land of Canaan to which I am bringing you, you shall not do and you shall not follow their statutes {customs}. Leviticus 18:3 So from this we see that Eretz Yisroel is a Holy Place, a separated place because the inhabitants of the land are required to abide by a higher standard than what is required by G-d for those occupying the lands in the rest of the world. Related Subjects: PESACH - OMER LESSONS Wishing you the best, Dr. Akiva G. Belk JewishPath is a sponsor of B'nai Noach Torah Institute. As a sponsor we are permitted to offer one FREE E-Mail course on a limited basis per individual from BNTI's Introduction Courses. We invite you to visit and choose an E - Mail Intro Course. BNTI offers Intro Courses in Judaism and Spirituality {7 Noaich Laws}. BNTI Responses are NOT AUTO!!
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