Parashat Behar-Bechukotai

Once again, we have a double portion this week. We read about the laws of the Sabbatical cycles (leaving the fields to rest every seventh year) and the Jubilee year (every 50th year all land reverts back to it’s original owner, slaves are freed, debts forgiven…). We then conclude the book of Vayikra (Leviticus).

The first two books of the Torah have very clear themes. This is not the case with books 3-5. While there are clear themes in the book, it’s hard to pinpoint the underlying theme of the book; why does it start and end exactly where it does.

Even those who deny the divine authorship of the Torah would have to agree that it’s, at the very least, good literature. And in all good literature, the final chapters of the book relate back to the core themes expressed in the opening chapters.

The book begins with “And G-d called out to Moses”. The final parahsat of the book starts with “If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them, I will give your rains in their time, the Land will yield its produce, and the tree of the field will give forth its fruit. … and you will live in security in your land. And I will grant peace in the Land, and you will lie down with no one to frighten you;” [26:3-6]

That’s what the book is about. G-d is telling the nation of Israel (through Moses) that there is a land set aside for his chosen people. And in order to live in this land chosen by G-d, we must live in the way becoming of G-d chosen people. The book then sets out what this way of living is. It talks about what to eat, how to plant, how to worship, how to treat your neighbour, how to treat strangers… It teaches Israel how to bring G-d into every aspect of their lives. In short, it teaches each of us how to live our lives in the image of G-d.

G-d tells us of all the good that will come if we follow in his ways, and all the tragedy that will befall us if we don’t. Let us all hear the calling of G-d, "Vayikra" so that we can `walk together' in order that the blessings of the Torah will be fulfilled speedily in our days.

Shabbat Shalom!