Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
Kilayim Pie?
The prohibition against interbreeding animals and plants raises questions about the kashrut of genetically modified foods.
Weaving Together Ritual and Ethics
Only through the combination of ritual and ethics can Judaism fully express itself.
Parashat Achrei Mot: Summary
God instructs Moses regarding the procedures for the Day of Atonement; sexual prohibitions are then listed.
When Leaders Have Moral Failings
The commandment to the priests to purify themselves of sin before God reminds us to hold our leaders accountable to act ethically.
The Sanctity Of Elemental Relationships
The juxtaposition of laws about the high priest on Yom Kippur, forbidden sexual relationships and laws about blood teach the sanctity of basic parts of life.
The Nature Of Holiness
The commandment to be holy raises questions about our responsibilities towards community and our relationships with God.
The Limits Of Spirituality
Nadav and Avihu died in an act of sanctification; our goal should be to sanctify God through our lives, not our deaths.
From Far And Near
We can reach God by engaging with the world around us and connecting to others and the earth.
A New Look At Philanthropy
The commandment to leave behind some of the harvest for the poor challenges our assumptions about to whom the food belongs in the first place.
The Threat And Promise Of Conformity
We can learn from and adopt only those practices foreign to Judaism that enhance and strengthen Jewish practice.