Saturday, May 13, 2000 - 8 Iyyar, 5760
Focus Passage: Leviticus 24: 1-23
"The Sanctity Of Ritual"
Concern for both ritual and ethical conduct are combined in fitting fashion within this chapter, reminding us of the propriety of both. For Israel affirmed the appropriate role of ritual (vv. 1-9) while maintaining ethical stipulations much like those of the Ten Commandments and the other Laws in the book of the Covenant (Exodus 21 - 24). In the first instance, specific instructions were given concerning attention to the lights in the sanctuary. The lampstand within the Tabernacle (later the Temple) fulfilled more than the functional purpose of lighting an otherwise dark room. Although created for aesthetic reasons, its primary purpose was to symbolize the presence of G-d as Light. Indeed, it drew together the role of light in the context of darkness, which characterized religion prior to the creation of Israel as a people. The bread was also given as a perpetual commandment, and the presence of the bread not only reminded Israel of the manna given in the wilderness, but more significantly testified to Israel's continuing dependence upon G-d for sustenance.
Ethical concern in the context of holiness was emphasized through the story of the Egyptian, married to an Israelite woman, who cursed G-d and was stoned to death. This led to the stipulation that any person cursing G-d should suffer a similar fate (vv. 10 - 16). But to this there also were added stipulations concerning murder, the destruction of an animal belonging to another person, and injury to a person. Not only was there a prescribed ritual for pleasing G-d, there was also a prescribed pattern of ethical conduct.
Shalom U'Vracha (peace and blessings)
Thomas and Greta
