Following the deaths of
Nadav and Avihu, G‑d warns against unauthorized entry “into the holy.” Only one person, the kohen gadol (“high priest”), may—but once a year, on
Yom Kippur—enter the
innermost chamber in the Sanctuary to offer the sacred
ketoret to G‑d.
Another feature of the Day of Atonement service is the
casting of lots over two goats, to determine which should be offered to G‑d and which should be dispatched to carry off the
sins of Israel to the
wilderness.
The Parshah of Acharei also warns against bringing
korbanot (animal or meal offerings) anywhere but in the Holy Temple, forbids the consumption of
blood, and details the laws prohibiting incest and other deviant sexual
relations.
The Parshah of Kedoshim begins with the statement: “You shall be
holy, for I, the L‑rd your G‑d, am holy.” This is followed by dozens of
mitzvot (divine commandments) through which the Jew sanctifies him- or herself and relates to the holiness of G‑d.
These include: the prohibition against
idolatry, the mitzvah of
charity, the principle of
equality before the law,
Shabbat, sexual
morality,
honesty in business, honor and awe of one’s
parents, and the sacredness of
life.
Also in Kedoshim is the dictum which the great sage Rabbi Akiva called a cardinal principle of Torah, and of which Hillel said, “This is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary”—
“Love your fellow as yourself.”
