Have You Seen My Alps?
5779
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A story is told of Rabbi Sampson Raphael Hirsch (Germany, 1808-1888), the intellectual giant behind the founding of contemporary Orthodox Judaism: It is said that late in his life, the old rabbi surprised his students by scheduling himself a long trip to Switzerland. When they inquired about why he insisted on making such a journey, he replied:
“Soon, I will stand before the Almighty. I will be held answerable to many questions. But, what will I say when I am asked, ‘Shimson, my son, it is true you did many mitzvot, but did you also remember to see My Alps?”
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Wagering on the Meaning of Meaning
5779
Behukkotai is known for its aspect of tokhehah, admonition. This parashah details the consequences of
pursuing God’s laws (hukkot) and commandments (mitzvot), including the positive but dwelling upon the
negative, in terms of sheer number and detail. The parashah begins, “If you walk in my laws
(im behukkotai telekhu) and keep my commandments (et mitzvotai tishmeru),” and continues with promises
such as, “I shall grant you rains at the correct times…I shall grant peace in your land…and turn towards
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The People Who Work for Us
5779
“If your kinsman under you continues in straits and must give himself over to you, do not subject him to the treatment of a slave. He shall remain with you as a hired or bound laborer…No one shall rule ruthlessly over the other.” (Leviticus 25: 39-40, 46)
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Does Law Equal Justice?
5779
Our parashah this week ends in an odd way, a way that it is odd both for the book of Leviticus, and for Torah more generally. Leviticus is largely a book of laws – laws related to the Tabernacle and the priesthood (hence the English name of the book that invokes the tribe of Levi), laws of incest and sexual prohibitions, laws of ritual impurity, and so on. It contains very few narratives, yet it presents one here.
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