We have finished Genesis, on the creation of the world, followed by Exodus, in which we went from slavery to freedom. What’s next? Where do the reader, and the Jewish nation, continue from here?

The next stage is the book of Leviticus, which is also called, “The Book of Holiness.” A high standard is expected of us:”You shall be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”

What does the Torah mean by this demand? The commentators explain that this relates to personal sanctity: we are meant to be holy people within our physical selves and the physical world. This holiness is expressed within the small details listed in the Book of Leviticus dealing with sacrifices, respectful dialogue, holidays, the Shemitta year, the laws of keeping kosher, etc. The entire book, and indeed the essence of the entire Torah, can be summed up by one famous phrase from the middle of Leviticus, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

How can you work towards that ideal this week?

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Metz