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Acharei
Mot-Kedoshim
Leviticus
16:1-20:27
Leviticus
19:20-27
Amos 9:7-15
Ezekiel
20:2-20
Hebrews
9:11-28
Peter
1:13-16
Again this week we have a double portion. It starts with
the statement, "After the death of Nadav and Avihu," then goes on to tell
us that on the most holy day of the year, on Yom Kippur, only the High
Priest may enter into the Holy innermost
chamber. The Parashah continues by giving us details of the
rituals of the casting of lots for the two goats. Also included is what
the High Priest is to wear, the sin offering for himself as well as for
the people. Then we are told about not bringing in forbidden sacrifices,
and not eating or drinking blood. Further we are told not to have deviant
sexual relations.
In the second part of this portion we are commanded to be
holy, as our G-d, Himself is holy. We must love our neighbor as
ourselves, give charity, honor parents, etc.
Besides the offerings that are commanded, we read in the
commentary in the Stone edition of the Chumash, telling us that on Yom
Kippur the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) had to be ready to change his clothes
often depending what part of the Yom Kippur service he was performing. The
High Priest's clothing consisted of two sets of vestments. One was called
Begadie Zahav (golden vestments), the other was Begadie Lavan, (white
vestments), which were worn only on Yom Kippur. it is from this that the
custom of wearing the Kittel began in the days after the destruction of
the temple in 70 of the CE (common era), or as many would know as 70 AD.
The Kittel is white and is a symbol of purity. Thus on Yom Kippur the High
Priest changed his vestments five times, as well as immersing himself in
the Mikveh every time he changed and washed his hands and feet 10 times in
the course of the day. He certainly was clean that day!
Also, besides all the ritual and change of clothes, water
immersions, etc., the High Priest had to be prepared spiritually and
physically before the day of Yom Kippur. Rabbinic tradition stemming from
the end of the second temple period informs us that the High Priest was
separated from his wife and isolated for seven days before Yom Kippur. On
the eve of the holy day it was deemed necessary to keep him awake the
whole night lest he become ritually impure. Various things were done to
keep him awake, including reading from holy scripture scrolls, snapping
fingers (making noise), walk on cold floors, so forth. In other words, he
was not to sleep but be awake and be prepared for his holy work.
In Matthew 26 starting in verse 36 we read the account in
the Garden of Gethsemane, where our Messiah went to pray taking with him
Simon (Peter), the two sons of Zabedee, and Matthew tells us that he was
in sorrow to the point of death. Yeshua told his talmidim or deciples to
remain and stay awake. But as we read they kept falling asleep; so he
rebuked them stating that they need to be awake and be prepared, for the
time is near. He said, "Stay awake for the time is at hand for me to be
betrayed!" Here we see that He was preparing for His work to make the
world clean, white and pure by His atoning work.
As Hebrews tells us in chapters 4 thru10, He now is the
High Priest who helped us to receive the mercy and the grace of G-d.
Let us remain awake and see the redemption He has given us.
Be vigilant in prayers to be ready to serve Him and do His work.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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