Torah Portion Summary

Parashat Kedoshim (קְדשִׁים) begins with the call for the Israelites to be holy (kadosh) on account of their relationship with Kedosh Yisrael - "The Holy One of Israel." The portion therefore focuses on defining a "holiness code" that contains more commandments regarding practical ethics than any other portion of the Torah. It begins with the LORD saying to Moses, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). Chapter 19 describes the holy community through a series of specific commandments and chapter 20 warns against the snares of sexual immorality and idolatry, mandating a death penalty for certain sins. Except in biblical leap years, Kedoshim is read together with Acharei Mot.

What is Holiness?

In Hebrew, the word kedushah (from the root k-d-sh) means sanctity or "set-apartness" (other Hebrew words that use this root include kadosh (holy), kiddush (sanctifying the wine), kaddish (sanctifying the Name), kiddushin (the ring ceremony at a marriage), and so on). Kadosh connotes the sphere of the sacred that is radically separate from all that is sinful and profane. As such, it is lofty and elevated (Isa. 57:15), beyond all comparison and utterly unique (Isa. 40:25), entirely righteous (Isa. 5:16), glorious and awesome (Psalm 99:3), full of light and power (Isa. 10:7), and is chosen and favored as God's own (Ezek. 22:26). Indeed, holiness is a synonym for the LORD Himself (Hakadosh barukh hu - The Holy One, blessed be He).

The idea of the holy (kadosh) therefore implies differentiation: the realm of the holy is entirely set apart from the common, the habitual, or the profane. The holy is singular, awe-inspiring, even "terrible" or dreadful (see Neh. 1:5; Psalm 68:35). As the Holy One (hakadosh), God is utterly unique, distinct, sacred, and "set apart" as the only One of its kind. He alone is worthy of true worship and adoration, since He alone is peerless, without rival, and stands in relation to the world as Creator and Lord. Yes, only the Lord is infinitely and eternally Other -- known to Himself as "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:15).

Holiness, then, implies more than an abstract or indifferent "metaphysical" separation (as is suggested by various forms of dualism), but rather separation from that which is mundane (chullin), banal, common, or evil. In other words, holiness implies absolute moral goodness and perfection. It is impossible that the Holy One could condone sin, since this would negate the distinction between the sacred and profane and thereby undermine the nature of holiness itself. The Holy is in opposition to the profane and therefore the LORD must hate and oppose that which violates the sacred. Indeed, one of the first acts of the LORD in the created order was the separation of the heavenly light from darkness, as recorded in Genesis 1:4:

Haftarh Portion Summary

The Haftarah portion (Ashkenaz) concerns Israel's dispersion and eventual regathering in the acharit hayamim, the end of days. Amos predicts the destruction and exile of the ancient State of Israel, since Israel did not fulfill its destiny to be a holy nation. However, the Jewish people, the house of Ya'akov, will never be destroyed, only "sifted" in the sieve of historic exile. Israel will eventually be rebuilt as a light to the nations: "I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted out of their land, which I have given them- says God, your Lord."

B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary

The New Testament reading for this parashah repeats the call to holiness. In the passage from 1 Peter, the call to holiness is predicated upon the "hope that will be brought to you" at the revelation of Yeshua at the end of days, and in the 1 Corinthians reading, Paul outlines the same moral constraints that mark a called out people of God. Believers in the Mashiach are to be free from the sin that pervades surrounding culture, and in particular free from sexual immorality, which is actually idolatry. The follower of the Mashiach Yeshua is not exempt from the call to personal holiness, since the LORD God of Israel is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

All Portions this week (LINK)
Torah	Haftarah	B'rit Chadashah
Leviticus 19:1-20:27	Amos 9:7-15	Matthew 5:43-48
	Ezekiel 20:2-20	Mark 12:28-34
	Ezekiel 22:1-16	1 Peter 1:13-16
		1 Corinthians 6:9-20

COMMENTARY
Fruits of Torah	Torah Resource	Hebrews for Christians
Ardelle -ver1	Tim Hegg -part1	Torah Table Talk
Ardelle -ver2		Month of Iyyar

AUDIO COMMENTARY (Nehemia's Wall)
Portion	Torah Pearls	Prophet Pearls
Kedoshim