Liberal Judaism

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These portions cover the rite of Yom Kippur, making atonement on behalf of the People and then begins the Laws of Holiness, in out portions covering some ritual practices, food, sexual offences, leading a life of holiness and the punishment for sexual offences.

I have just returned with my family from a few weeks holiday in Israel and have to admit to having fallen into one of the great ironies of being in Israel and holiday-time, I do not feel so 'holy!'.

Firstly, we fell into the trap of being in Israel and therefore not near to a Liberal Shul, rather finding ourselves spending a Shabbat on a non-religious Kibbutz. The end of Pesach was so easy that it was as if we neer had to think about it and the 'chagim - festivals' we celebrated or commemorated were linked to the recent history of our People and the State of Israel. Holiness through religion just seemed to pass us by.

Secondly, we were on holiday! The reality is that we had sort of done our ethical bit beforehand by offsetting our flights etc and are so tuned into recycling plastic bottles that we went onto autopilot. We wandered about without a care in the world and it was not difficult to be nice to everyone. Hey we were on holiday, happy and carefree. Holiness through an active puruit of ethical living just seemed to pass us by.

Lest I got caught up in my lethargy (and broke the bank balance), alas holidays need to end, dreams-like states are burst and with the reality of being thrown back into normal living, I am relieved that I jump back into the Torah cycle with laws concerning holiness. I do not agree with many of the ways that the Torah describes as necessary for living a life of holiness, others I do by rote as they are so universally acceptable and others I accept as just being right. However, they make me think again, get my mind back up to par and driving my actions: a challenge from the Torah, 'this is how we did it back then - how are you going to make your life work towards holiness now?' It is at times like this I appreciate the value of Leviticus, that middle bit of the Torah that was given in a few days but we stretch out over weeks. In the middle of the manic nature of our lives, a few moments, a few thoughts at a time when we need it most, the everday reality of our lives.

Parashot Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1 - 20:27)

by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein