Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Vayikra and Holiness - Part One

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Here is part one of an article from Ohev Israel in Lorton, VA:

The book of Vayikra, Leviticus, concludes with a double portion that conveys two seemingly unrelated themes - holiness and restoration, kedusha and hashava – among perhaps many themes that can be found in those final chapters.

The idea of holiness, kedusha, is prevalent throughout this middle book of the Torah, from the purity of the priesthood; to the purity of the camp, the settlement, of the tribes of Israel; to the purity of the central worship site, the Tabernacle; to the purity of the offerings brought before HaShem.

But is holiness an end in itself or are there larger purposes to be found in the Levitical commandments that distinguished Israel from all other nations; distinguished the tribe of Levi from the other tribes; distinguished the Sabbaths, the Holy Days, from all other days on the calendar; and distinguished the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, from all other tents pitched at Sinai and elsewhere as the nation journeyed toward the Promised Land.

Centuries after these commandments were given through Moshe, in the course of a series of commandments that restated the heart-intent of Torah observance, Yeshua told those gathered, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the second part!