In this one sweeping statement the Torah assigns to us a mitzvah that seems well beyond our capacity – be holy. Even more perplexing this isn’t relegated only to the elite, or to the most pious. Rather, every Jew is commanded to be sacred. This presents a number of problems. The first is that the mitzvah is extremely vague.  If the Torah tells us to put on tefilin, it is clearly defined action, to be…

Why should I be punished for your sin When the Torah mentions the obligation to rebuke a fellow Jew, it ends with the words, “and do not carry a sin because of him.” The Targum translates this as, “and do not receive a punishment for his sin.” According to the Targum, it appears that if Reuvain ate a ham sandwich and I didn’t rebuke him, I would be punished for his sin. This seems difficult…

The Torah warns us many times and with many different exhortations not to consume blood. The Kli Yakar points out than in Devarim the Torah tells us not to eat blood because “It will be good for you and your children after you”. He explains that: “Consuming blood brings cruelty into the one who eats it, and the nature of the father is given over to his children to be like him. Therefore, the Torah…