Thursday, April 10, 2014

Daily Aliya for Acharei Mot, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: We are enjoined not to consume blood. When slaughtering fowl or undomesticated animals, we are commanded to cover their blood with earth. The Jews are admonished not to follow the depraved ways of the Egyptians and Canaanites.


This Aliya contained the expression that we should follow G-d's statutes and ordinances and "live by them". While the standard definition is that these are laws to live by, it could also mean that the laws are alive as well, meaning that they are organic and meant to adjust to our times and situations. While some interpret this to mean that some laws are less relevant and therefore don't need to be followed, the truth is that the laws still exist as a baseline of observance and must always remain, but a "branch" might have grown from it (a perfect example is electricity, which didn't exist back then, but is a "live" extension of the prohibition of starting a fire on Shabbat).

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