B"H

Monday, Iyar 7, 5781 (22nd day of the Omer)/ April 19, 2021

This Shabbat we again read two Parshiot. They are Parshat Acharei Mot & Kedoshim, in the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra).

As mentioned last week, the reason we combine two Parshiot together is that in a non leap year there are not enough weeks in the year to read one Parsha each Shabbat and finish the entire Torah in the course of a year. Thus, some Parshiot have to be combined in a non-leap year.

Q. How were these particular Parshiot chosen to be combined?

A.  There is a concept not to burden the congregation when not necessary. For this reason some of the shortest Parshiot were chosen to be combined. The two Parshiot, Acharei Mot & Kedoshim, which we combine this Shabbat, are both short Parshiot.

In one of the passages in Parshat Acharei Mot, the Torah says, “You should observe My statutes and My laws, which man shall do, and live by them.”

Q.What does the Torah mean with the words, “And live by them”?

A.The Talmud explains that the Torah tells us here that although each of G-d’s commandments is very important to fulfill, yet, they were given to “live” by them and not to die by them. This teaches us that when there is a situation of life and deathand in order to live, one must transgress that Mitzvah, then life takes precedence.

For example: We are prohibited to eat non kosher foods or eat on Yom Kippur. However, when it is a situation of life and death and the doctor orders that they must eat a non kosher food item, or eat on Yom Kippur, otherwise they will die, the Torah commands us, “Live by them!” Life takes precedence.

The same applies with Shabbat. When someone’s life is in danger, one is obligated to violate the Shabbat in order to save the person’s life. In the case of saving a life one is not violating Kashrut, Shabbat or Yom Kippur, rather they are fulfilling a great mitzvah which is to live by the mitzvot.

This is why we see observant Jews involved in the Hatzalah organization, a volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives. One can see them driving the Hatzalah cars and ambulances even on Shabbat and Yom Kippur. Because when it comes to saving a life, one is not transgressing G-d’s commandment, but rather performing a great mitzvah.

There is also a deeper explanation of the commandment in the Torah, “And live by them.” The Torah tells us that when performing the mitzvot, we should perform them withlife and enthusiasm. Torah and mitzvot are our life, for they connect us to G-d Who is the source of life and through them Am Yisrael Chai – The nation of Israel lives.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY