ACHAREI MOT/KEDOSHIM
Combined readings
Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Reading #5 - Leviticus 19:15-32
My Thoughts:
In verse 28 we are told not to put any tattoos on our skin. What part of this Commandment do we not understand? It’s so interesting that when we disobey a Commandment (believe I have done this too!) that we justify our actions. Maybe you think Hashem is talking about tattoos to false gods or this was a different culture or time. But, if we take His Word at face value we see that we are not to mark our skin at all. He says no to this. So, tattoos are wrong -- they are sin. If you have tattoos then maybe it is time to repent and make restitution. If you are thinking about getting one, I pray you take this Commandment literally and do not get one. Seek Hashem, He will show you!
Challenge:
Here is a huge challenge, one that I deal with often because I have small grandchildren. In verse 31 we are told not to “seek” or be “defiled” by medium and wizards. Well, if you turn on kids TV you will find most every station has “magic”, witches, fairies and all sorts of wizardry. If we watch this or even play act with magic aren’t we entertaining wizards and mediums? I will usually justify and say to myself, “It is only make believe”. But, again we are dodging an important Commandment and influencing our children. Lately, I have been saying to my grandkids, “Bubbie does not like magic”. And I will say we can do special things instead. Torah is strict about teaching our children the Truth. Time to change. I know it’s hard. But separation from the Father is even harder, it’s unbearable.
Reading #5 - Leviticus 19:15-32
19:15 “‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.
16 “‘You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people.
“‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Hashem.
17 “‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Hashem.
19 “‘You shall keep my statutes.
“‘You shall not cross-breed different kinds of animals.
“‘You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed;
“‘Don’t wear a garment made of two kinds of material.
20 “‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed or given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21 He shall bring his trespass offering to Hashem, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, even a ram for a trespass offering. 22 The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before Hashem for his sin which he has committed; and the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.
23 “‘When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. For three years it shall be forbidden to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, for giving praise to Hashem. 25 In the fifth year you shall eat its fruit, that it may yield its increase to you. I am Hashem your Elohim.
26 “‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
27 “‘You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your head or clip off the edge of your beard.
28 “‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Hashem.
29 “‘Don’t profane your daughter, to make her a prostitute; lest the land fall to prostitution, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 “‘You shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am Hashem.
31 “‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Hashem your Elohim.
32 “‘You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the elderly; and you shall fear your Elohim. I am Hashem.
