Friday, 5 May 2017

Parashas Acharei Mos - Kedoshim

Our Sedra this week is a double Parsha of Acharei Mos and Kedoshim.In Parsha Acharei Mos,HaShem Speaks to Moshe after the passing of Aharon's two sons Nadav and Avihu about the sanctity of entering into the Sanctuary within the Curtain in front of the Cover on the Ark where HaShem's Shechinah Rests.It was on Yom Kippur when the Kohein Gadol was permitted entry,but only after much purification.The Parsha then goes on to explain the Yom Kippur Service.Then the Commandment is given not to eat blood.This Parsha continues with the forbidden relationships and Laws against giving offering to idols Chas Ve Shalom.HaShem reminds us to keep the land of Israel Holy.
Parashas Kedoshim is just that, where within this word Kedoshim,is the word 'Kadosh,' - 'Holy,' where through HaShem's Laws, we are kept Holy.In this Parsha, Laws of Shabbos are mentioned as are the Laws of Honoring and Respecting Parents, as well as injunctions against turning to idols Chas Ve Shalom.HaShem also teaches us how to behave in this Parsha, with giving gifts to the poor and dealing honestly with others and judging fairly and also not slandering as well as loving our fellow.Then Kilayim - Forbidden Mixtures is discussed as well as the Shifchah Charufah-the designated maid-servant.Next is discussed the Laws of Fruit Trees and if they are newly planted ,their fruit is forbidden for the first three years,The fourth year's fruit is to be sanctified for HaShem and finally in its fifth year,its fruit may be eaten.
Next is mentioned the Laws against eating blood,laws against indulging in sorcery and laws against believing in lucky times and not following the practices of the idolworshippers around , like rounding off the edge of the hair and beard,or cutting the flesh for the dead or tattooing.
HaShem then Reminds us of the Shabbos and not to follow idol practices. Very important,is then mentioned, respecting the elderly (for a place that has no respect for the elderly,is a place doomed and hopeless,ready for destruction).We are then reminded about respecting the Ger Tzeddek - the Righteous Proselyte and also to have honest weights and measures while HaShem Tells us how He Brought us out from Egypt where these bad practices were done.The Parsha ends with another mention of the Forbidden Relationships, this time with more words of the punishment due for them and HaShem Ends the Parsha with Mention of keeping the Land Holy and the Law of Kashrus where HaShem tells us that we as the Children of Israel are separated by G-D as His Holy people.
So right through both these Parshas in this double Parsha Sedra this week, HaShem Gives us strict direct instructions of how to be Holy and come close to Him.
We all may have our own ways but in all humility, the only way to HaShem is His Way. The only way to be in HaShem's Presence, is to follow His Laws and not our own.HaShem Knows what is right and necessary and no matter how our limited human logic may try to pull us otherwise, G-D Alone Knows All. 
We find in the Laws of morality in these Parshas,often HaShem ending verses reminding us that "I Am HaShem ." What is HaShem trying to Tell us with this reminder. Surely we know it is HaShem Telling us how to treat others and all things and our fellow human beings.So why would HaShem repeatedly Tell us this.The answer is actually so clear. 
HaShem puts a Soul that is a part of His Sweetness into every life force in Creation and so, He is a part of us all. Thus when we do wrong to others, we are actually wronging the Soul that is from HaShem in the other person and thus we are directly wronging G-D .So at the end of many of these Laws, HaShem Reminds us that when we wrong our fellow , we are also wronging HaShem directly Chas Ve Shalom .
All too many times most people forget whose World this is. It is not ours at all. Not the food we eat, nor the homes we live in and certainly not the people we are around.All is HaShem's , on loan from Him as are the bodies we are given , as us. Thus we are to treat all things as He Wants them treated and to follow Him as He Wants us to .It is for this very reason that when we partake of food, we bless it , as in doing so, we acknowledge that it belongs to HaShem and in Blessing it, we are also getting permission to partake of that which belongs to G-D .It doesn't mean that if we buy food with our own money that it is ours. No, even the amount we earn and the very fact that we are Blessed to earn, is all due to G-D. Thus those who eat without acknowledging G-D for it , are actually stealing from G-D , Chas Ve Shalom.The same goes for all things in HaShem's Creation.We are to treat all things as G-D Wants us to according to His Laws . It is only to G-D we are to pray. It is only to G-D we are to turn. It is only G-D and no other that we are to worship. Not an idol of wood or stone or even a man that is blasphemously made into more, for all things and all people are made by G-D and all are Creations from G-D . G-D alone makes all.
To be Holy is to be G-Dly, to emulate those Moral and Holy ways that G-D Himself has . G-D Asks us to emulate Him and this can only be done if we study His Torah and learn what He Wants and do it and take on His Moral Mercy and Kind Ways.
These Two Parshas that form the Sedra of this Shabbos has a very definite message that is in both - follow My Ways and Laws says HaShem and be Holy , Coming Close to Me HaShem and being at One with Me HaShem .
May this whole world learn to follow HaShem Only and follow His Laws and return to HaShem with love.May this whole World become 'Kadosh,' - ' Holy,' that we can return to Gan Eiden , where the very air is sweet with Holiness and every drop of Dew from HaShem is an Eternity of His Love.
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love, a Sweet Beautiful Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all, a sweet beautiful blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love.

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