“And the Lord said unto Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say unto them: There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people” (Leviticus 21:1-2). The law is in ...

This week’s Torah reading, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, brings us to the part of Leviticus known as the “Holiness Code.” In enjoining Israel to be a holy nation, a nation of priests, how does ...

“No man among the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall approach [the altar] to offer the sacrifice….” (Leviticus 21:21). Women were excluded from priestly service, but so ...

for ye are strangers and settlers with Me” (Leviticus 25:23, JPS Tanakh 1917, from Parashat Behar). The Levites, the Priests, will not have dedicated land allocations; they will be supported by ...

Words matter, and this week’s readings introduce two adjectives that deserve some consideration. Leviticus introduces the notion of “holy,” while today’s Gospel ends with “perfect.” ...

Exodus and Numbers – she was initially not drawn to write about Leviticus. “It seemed rather dry, and full of small details about the functioning of the Tabernacle and the priests (kohanim ...