WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

Parashat Acharei Mot - Kedoshim

Iyar 12, 5785 / May 9-10, 2025

Torah: Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27

Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15 (Ashkenazim); Ezekiel 20:2-20 (Sephardim)

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for the hostages.

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. Recently, we have also been learning some Gemara that was omitted from Ein Ya'akov. 
On May 12, we'll be at BT Yevamot 46b - 

 '... אָמַר רַבָּה: עוֹבָדָא הֲוָה בֵּי רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר רַבִּי' - "Rabba said: There was an incident in the house of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Rabbi..."

NOTE: After May 12, due to holidays and travel, our next meeting will be June 9. 

Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:

https://hebrewbooks.org/9630 
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria: 
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

"You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your fellow as yourself; I am the Lord." Lev. 19:18

"As the home born among you, so shall be the stranger that dwells with you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." Lev. 19:34.

In her book, "New Studies in Leviticus", Nehama Leibowitz z'l wonders what exactly is meant by "as yourself" (kamocha). She points out that the Rabbis had said that to love another as one's self cannot be taken literally. She refers to the commentary "Biur", which says, "It is hardly conceivable that the Almighty should command something which is beyond human capacity." Rather, says Leibowitz, do not read "as yourself", but instead "who is like you". That is why the Torah says, "For you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Because you know the heart of a stranger (Exodus 23:9), you must love the stranger rather than treat him the way you were treated in Egypt.

Leibowitz’ reading raises another issue. The word "ger", translated here as "stranger", has two meanings - "alien" and "proselyte". The Rabbis understood the “stranger that dwells with you” in the latter sense. They understood "you were strangers" in the former sense. Then Leibowitz’ understanding of "kamocha" as "who is like you" would suggest either that the Israelites had become Egyptian proselytes, God forbid, or that "the stranger that dwells with you" means any stranger, regardless of religious practice.

Far be it from me to suggest that the Rabbis misinterpreted this verse; but I wish to propose a broader meaning. The "stranger" is a closely related case to "fellow". Just as you are to love your fellow, who you recognize to be like you, so should you love the stranger who, as it happens, whether alien or proselyte, is also like you.

Recall that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Perhaps that is why the second verse has the phrase "your God" - as a reminder. So, every person can become "your fellow" whom you love and who loves you in return - but only when you acknowledge that every person is "like you".

This Shabbat, we each have the opportunity to carry out both of the mitzvot discussed above, as well as the mitzvah that opens parashat Kedoshim, the second part of this Shabbat's reading - "…You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” Lev. 19:2

This Saturday, May 10, mail carriers throughout the United States will be "stamping out hunger", collecting cans, bags and boxes of non-perishable groceries. The food will be distributed to local food banks and soup kitchens. This is a no-brainer. All you have to do is leave groceries by your mailbox and the carrier will take it when s/he delivers your mail. One item or fifty, it will all help alleviate someone's hunger for a time. It's a wonderful way for you and your children to carry out the call which we made at the Pesach Seder just a few weeks ago - "Let all who are hungry come and eat!"

Have a wonderful, loving and holy Shabbat!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus

Temple B'nai Hayim

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1 

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