Torah Portion: Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27
Reading #1 — Leviticus 19:1–14
My Thoughts:
Hashem starts this section with “Be holy, for I am holy.” Then He explains how to be holy. If we follow His commands – we will grow to be holy. You may be thinking that it is impossible to be holy. But, it’s not. It’s just what He wants from us because He wants us to be the best that we can be. And if you are loving Him with everything you have, and you are loving others – well then, you are on your way to holiness!
Challenge:
These commandments are pretty simple. There is nothing hard or difficult to understand about them. Respect your parents, honor the Sabbath, don’t lie, steal, take care of your neighbor, etc. You may be thinking that you do all these things. But, I challenge you today to really take a hard look at your life and see if indeed you are doing these things. Are you really keeping the Sabbath, or do you excuse some small things on that special day believing that Hashem will forgive you. Or do you really respect your parents or are you complaining that you have to do so much for them? Are you taking care of the poor or are you spending your money on frivolous items instead? Review your life and change what needs to be changed. And I will do the same. Amen.
Reading #1 — Leviticus 19:1–14
Leviticus 19:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, Hashem your Elohim, am holy.
3 “‘Each one of you shall respect his mother and his father. You shall keep my Sabbaths. I am Hashem your Elohim.
4 “‘Don’t turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am Hashem your Elohim.
5 “‘When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to Hashem, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. 6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. If anything remains until the third day, it shall be burned with fire. 7 If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It will not be accepted; 8 but everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the holy thing of Hashem, and that soul shall be cut off from his people.
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Hashem your Elohim.
11 “‘You shall not steal.
“‘You shall not lie.
“‘You shall not deceive one another.
12 “‘You shall not swear by My name falsely, and profane the name of your Elohim. I am Hashem.
13 “‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him.
“‘The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
14 “‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your Elohim. I am Hashem.
