Parashiyot Acharei Mot & Kedoshim

Saturday 2 May 2015         28th Day of Omer     Iyyar  13  5775

Parashiyot Acharei Mot (after the death) ~ K’doshim ~ (Holy people)
Lev 16:1 – 20:27, Amos 9:7-15, Ez 22:1 – 22 - 19, Heb 9:11 – 281 Peter 1:13-16, 1 Cor 6:9-20

The Talmud teaches that the Hebrew word for ‘sorcery’ is a contraction of the phrase for ‘they deny the Divine retinue’ (Sanhedrin 67b). By definition, sorcery is an attempt to assume control of nature through the powers of impurity and thus deny God’s mastery. It also teaches that sorcery is dangerous because of the corrosive and enticing nature of such activity. The Torah thus exhorts the nation of Israel to root out worshippers of any force, or combination of forces, even worshippers of the angels of HaShem. Sforno adds that it is forbidden to worship a combination of HaShem and idols.

Israel was also prohibited from using any means whatsoever of foretelling the future. To HaShem such practices were an abomination. This was not the way of life ordained for His nation. Rather, Israel was to have faith that HaShem would give them the knowledge and direction they needed at the appropriate time ~ and they were to act upon this in faith and loyalty to Him.

You shall not eat over the blood; you shall not indulge in sorcery and you shall not indulge in lucky times. (Lev 19:26)

According to Ramban, in its literal meaning the above verse refers to a practice of sorcerers who would gather blood in a ditch, and, by means of incantations, foretell future events. He goes on to say that ‘Do not indulge in sorcery’ means here that the Israelites were not to base decisions on superstitious practices of this kind.

Do not turn to [the sorcery of] the Ovos and Yid’onim; do not seek to be contaminated through them ~ I am HaShem. (Lev 19:31)

Again with this verse, we turn to Jewish oral tradition to uncover its meaning. The Ovos and Yid’onim were magical practices that purported to foretell the future. The Israelites were therefore forbidden to indulge in such practices. The addition of “I am HaShem” underscores the fact that by participating in such activities, Israel would be turning to the dark side, the Enemy, for assistance and empowerment ~ thereby rejecting HaShem in favour of gaining knowledge of the future by turning to the prophets of Ov and Yid’oni (Rashi). Such 'dabbling' would be tantamount to apostasy, to idol worship.

The same principle is highlighted in Deuteronomy 18: 9~14, where eight forms of sorcery are listed; and all described as an 'abomination' to HaShem: “There shall not be found among you one who causes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, (2) one who practices divinations, (3) an astrologer, (4) one who reads omens, (5) a sorcerer, (6) an animal charmer, (7) one who enquires of Ov and Yid’oni, (8) or one who consults the dead.”

It is interesting to note that the next verse speaks of Mashiach. “A prophet from your midst, from your brethren, like me [Moses], shall HaShem, your God, establish for you ~ to him shall you harken.” (18:15)

Herein lies a great truth. The above verse speaks of the 'Anointed One' in whom we find rest for our restless souls…. Why do people perform child sacrifices, seek out mediums, the spirits of the dead, diviners and psychics? Why do people consult their star charts, rather than consulting the Maker of the stars? Insecurity, fear, tumultuous lives, loneliness, curiosity, seeking excitement or empowerment? Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote that inside of every person is a God-shaped vacuum that only God can fill… Until we find Yeshua, we yearn to fill that void, satisfy our souls, find contentment and deep peace ~ and this can take us into forbidden realms and get us into all sorts of trouble….

When is it permissible to engage with the dark side? Yeshua did so when he cast out demons… and Christian and Jewish exorcists have always done like-wise. Without such workers, souls would forever be in torment… When the Sanhedrin was still in existence, the leader was expected to possess a thorough knowledge of the ways of the Enemy in order to more effectively protect and guide the nation of Israel.

HaShem prepares and uses different people for different tasks. We may say “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” ~ and usually this is true ~ but there are some who are called to serve HaShem in ways and in places where most of us would indeed fear to tread… Such are holy, set apart, tasks; given only to those who are called to serve in this particular way… Whom do we serve? On this hinges our safety and our salvation...