Archive for the ‘Parsha 29 – Acharei Mot’ Category

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5770 – Relating to God

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

These two Torah portions are about how we are and are not to relate to God. Since marriage is an image of our relationship to God, they contain many examples of forbidden human relationships.

  • Leviticus 16 – Approaching God as a nation.
  • Levitucus 17 – Approaching God as individuals. Things that will prevent closeness.
  • Leviticus 18 – Mistakes other peoples made in their relationships. Judgment as a nation and as individuals.
    • Men with women
    • The offspring of relationships between men and women
    • Men with men
    • Men and women with animals
  • Leviticus 19 – Being set apart from other nations by a healthy relationship with God and each other.
  • Leviticus 20 – Refusing to be different creates unhealthy relationships with God and each other. Don’t blow it.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Love, Marriage, Parsha 29 - Acharei Mot, Parsha 30 - K'doshim, Theology, Torah | No Comments »

Prohibited Degrees of Kinship

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

There are numerous methods of charting degrees of consanguinity, so I thought I should post something about my own. Especially since I mentioned in my book that God prohibits marriage to anyone closer than the fourth degree. Ancestors and descendants, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and siblings are all out of bounds. First cousins are acceptable. At least to God. You might feel differently. Don’t use this chart for legal purposes, of course. Many jurisdictions define the degrees differently.

degrees-of-consanguinity.jpg

Marriage in the Bible

Posted in History, Marriage, Parsha 06 - Toldot, Parsha 29 - Acharei Mot, Theology, Torah | 3 Comments »

Acharei Mot 5769 – Rank Hath It’s Prerequisites

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Leviticus 16:4

…therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. A priest must wash himself before donning his robes. On the surface, this is about respect for his office and the holy things of God. At a slightly deeper level, this is about the character of a good leader. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” Before annointing a leader, make sure that he won’t soil the mantle of his office.

Posted in Leadership, Parsha 29 - Acharei Mot, Theology, Torah | Comments Off

Acharei Mot 5768 – A Priest’s Covering

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

Leviticus 16:16
And he shall make an atonement for the holy place… There are several orders of priest: Melchizedek, Aaron, father, and believer. Each one is a scaled down version of the one before. The Ark with its covering—here called the mercy seat—is a model of priesthood, while the other articles of the tabernacle represent the people or spheres over which each priesthood presides. The priest made a covering (or atonement, Hebrew kafar) for the sanctuary because of the sins of the nation. So too can a father provide a degree of covering for the sins of his house. He cannot forgive their sins against God nor remove them, but he has the authority to drive off unclean spirits, to invite godly and healing spirits, and to intervene with God on behalf of his wife and children.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Posted in History, Marriage, Men's Rights, Parsha 29 - Acharei Mot, Theology, Torah | No Comments »