B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 4, 5780 / April 28, 2020 (19th day of the Omer)
The Torah reading this Shabbat will be the two Parshiot, Acharei and Kedoshim.
Parshat Kedoshim begins, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying, Speak to the entire congregation of the Children of Israel, and say to them, You should be holy, because I, G-d your G-d, am holy. A person should fear his mother and father and observe My Shabbat for I am G-d, your G-d.”
In general, Moshe didn’t pass on G-d’s commandments and teachings to the entire congregation at the same time. He would teach his brother Aaron first, then Aaron’s children, then the elders and after he would teach everyone else. But the mitzvot in this Parsha, G-d told him to, “Speak to the entire congregation” -to teach everyone together. This teaches us that in order for us to be holy, as the name Kedoshim implies, we must all be together as one people.
Also, Parshat Kedoshim is special because we find in it many mitzvot which are similar to the Ten Commandments; “I am G-d, your G-d”: “Observe Shabbat”; “Respecting parents”; “Do not steal”. Just like the Ten Commandments were given in the presence of the entire Jewish nation, so too, G-d wanted Moshe to relate this Parsha in the presence of the entire nation.
Q. Why does the Torah connect fearing/honoring parents and the mitzvah of observing Shabbat?
A. This teaches us that G-d’s commandments take precedence. Thus, if parents command a child to violate Shabbat, one must listen to G-d’s commandment and not violate the Shabbat.
Another reason: There are three partners in the creation of a child; father, mother and G-d. The reason we observe Shabbat is stated in the Ten Commandments, “Six days you shall work and perform all your labor, but the seventh day is a Shabbat.. because in six days G-d made the heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day.”
Observing Shabbat is our confirmation that G-d is the creator of the universe. Honoring parents and observing Shabbat is our expression of gratitude to the three partners responsible for bringing us into this world. This is why the Torah combines respecting parents and observing Shabbat. Also, in the Ten Commandments, honoring parents and observing Shabbat are next to each other.
Q. Why does the Torah add the word, “A person” should fear his mother and father. Moshe was speaking to the entire congregation, he should have said, “You should fear your mother and father”?
A. The word “Ish” – “a person”is used for someone who is anadult. By adding the worda person the Torah wants to emphasize that even when one is an adult and is not dependent on his/her parents anymore, they still must honor their parents. One must honor and respect parents not for any ulterior motive, only because they are our parents.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY