Acharei-Mot Kedoshim (2026)

Shabbat Acharei-Mot Kedoshim

Dvar TorahBreaking from routine, this week’s Dvar Torah will be a re-run from last year which resonated deeply with me

In this week’s double-header Parsha, the Torah commands us to be “Kedoshim” (lit. holy). Nachmanides explains this means that while the Torah explicitly forbids us from specific acts (e.g. theft), there are some places which are not explicitly forbidden but where we are expected to draw the line ourselves – for example foul speech or glutenous consumption.

We can suggest that there are two powerful messages nested within Nachmanides’ commentary. Firstly, G-d trusts us. He believes that we have the intellect, moral sense, and if necessary, the courage to do what’s right even without being told precisely what it is or how to do it.

Secondly, drawing boundaries is a positive “do” commandment. When contrasted with negative “don’t-do” commandments (e.g. don’t gossip, don’t eat on Yom Kippur), here we are actively choosing to be something. Being "Kedoshim" means that living our lives in the ways of the Torah is not just a reactive exercise in restraint, but an active statement in adopting a higher values system and striving to reach something bigger throughout our lives.

Shabbat in/out TimesYerushalayim 18:34/19:53Metula 18:45/19:55Tel-Aviv 18:54/19:55Amsterdam 20:36/21:54NYC 19:27/20:30Buenos Aires 18:01/18:56More times

Shabbat Shalom!

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