Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
איש איש אל כל שאר בשרו לא תקרבו לגלות ערוה אני ה' ... (יח-ו)
When we read two parshiyos and there’s so much to choose from, it’s difficult to decide what to write about. It’s nice to find a common thread. In last week’s parshiyos, Tazria-Metzorah, it was easier to find a connection between the two sedros. Perhaps we can connect this week’s two parshiyos with the following idea. The posuk in Kedoshim says, "ולא תשחית את פאת זקנך". It is prohibited to shave a beard using a razor. Two of our greatest Gedolim of the previous generations - one Litvish, and one Chassidish - made the exact same penetrating observation on this posuk. They both asked, “Why were so many people in Klal Yisroel lax regarding the prohibition of shaving with a razor?” Both answered similarly, although one of the two elaborates as follows: The Baysusim (a heretic group during the times of the second Bais Hamikdash, similar to the Tzedukim) came to the Rabbanim angrily and complained. They said, “Why do you always make so many gezeiros and restrictions, thereby adding to the Torah obligations? What right do you have saddling us with more restrictions?” Our great Chachamim zt”l calmly reacted, and said: “Okay. We’ll leave one mitzvah untouched by us, and let’s see how the Yidden fare.”
That mitzvah was shaving; as there are no gedorim or extra precautions instituted. Unfortunately, we see what happened, as many transgress this prohibition, which contains five lavin as the lomdei hadaf recently learned. The wisdom of our Sages, the preventive fences they erected, aren’t just old archaic obligations. Rather they ensure our proper adherence to the Torah.
Parshas Acharei discusses the issurim of arayos. Chazal of yesteryear created numerous harchakos to prevent us from chalilah falling prey to the yetzer hara, e.g. laws of yichud, harchakos b’hilchos niddah, אל תרבה שיחה עם האשה, etc. And in our times, the idea of computer and cell phone filters, and the like. Listening and giving proper kavod to these gedorim will B”H keep us in check and help us be zoche to the kiyum of the posuk at the end of Kedoshim, "ואבדיל אתכם מן העמים להיות לי".