At the end of the ‘reproof’ section, that forms the bulk of our Parshah, G-d promises that even when the Jewish people have been sent into exile He will not abandon them. Despite the serious sins that have lead to their plight and the terrible punishments detailed in the Parshah, G-d promises to uphold the covenant. A similar promise is found at the end of the Torah. Yet, this is on reflection, strange and illogical. A covenant is an agreement, in this case between G-d and Israel. An agreement is normally binding on both sides and if one side breaches the agreement, various consequences can follow. Usually a serious or substantial breach of contact results in the agreement becoming null and void and, whatever the compensation required of the guilty party, no longer binding the other side. Yet in the covenant between G-d and Israel we have an agreement that was breached by the Jewish people in the most fundamental way, yet G-d still promises to honour it. How are we to understand this anomaly? An answer may lie in the second part of the Parshah that deals with the dedication of objects to the Temple. The Torah mandates that if someone donates an animal it is not possible to exchange it, even if it is to swap a lesser animal for a better one. If the person donating the animal does so, both become holy. Why should this be so, even in a case where the Temple benefits by getting a better animal? The simple answer is that the moment that a person sanctifies an animal by donating it to the Temple, it becomes holy. The name of G-d is now associated with it and it is therefore no longer able to be used for secular purposes. To do so, even in order to improve ones donation, is to in effect profane G-d’s name. The same applies to G-d’s relationship with the Jewish people. By all rights after we broke the covenant, G-d should have had no obligation to us and should have left us to our fate. But this was no ordinary agreement. By making a covenant with us, G-d ensured that His name is forevermore associated with the people of Israel. What happens to us is a reflection on him. As the prophet Ezekiel points out, G-d’s justified punishment of us becomes an occasion for the profanation of his name among the nations, so He has no choice but to save us. G-d cannot totally break the covenant, for to do so would diminish His reputation that is inextricably bound to our fate. And, since G-d has associated His name with ours, we should try not to let Him down.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon             The reward for obedience to the Torah: prosperity.

Sheni               The reward for obedience to the Torah: military success and peace. 

Shelishi           The dire consequences of disobedience.

Revi’i              The laws of valuing people and animals for donations to the Sanctuary.

Chamishi         The valuation of fields.

Shishi              The law of the ban.

Shevi’i             The redemption of the tithe.

Haftorah         Jeremiah: 16;19-17;14: the sins of Israel will lead to destruction and exile.

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Behukotai

·               has 78 verses;

·               is the 10th  in Leviticus,  33rd  in the Torah

·               7th longest in Leviticus, 45th  longest  in the Torah  

·                has 7 pos + 5 neg =  12 mitzvot.

·               Leviticus has:

·               859 verses, 10 Parshiot,

·               95 pos + 152 neg = 247 mitzvot

 

PAST PARSHAH PUZZLE

A Shabbat like Shavuot.

 

The Jubilee after 49 years.

 

PARSHAH PUZZLE

 

Empty to repay debt.

 

WEEKLY HALAKHA

 

From Lag B’Omer many communities permit weddings and haircutting.