Ethics Matter

 

Achrei Mot

Lev. 16:1 -18:30

Précis: Achrei Mot begins with Adonai speaking to Moses after the death (achrei mot) of Aaron’s sons. It describes the rituals for Yom Kippur, including the prescribed sacrifices. There are specific details about the purification of the Sanctuary, vessels, and the priests. Following this description, rules for the slaughter of meat (including the prohibition against eating blood) are reiterated. The parasha concludes with a listing of prohibited marriages. 

 

Rabbi Charles P. Sherman has written about the inherent difficulty of this entire parasha (MyJewishLearning.com, 5/3/16). He notes that it contains “violent divine retribution, the slaughter of animals, the sprinkling of blood, sexual perversions, arcane rituals, shame and atonement." It is hard for us to digest these details. Should we care about the “how-to’s” of a sacrificial cult which has been gone for 2,000 years? Do we need to read about details of ritual purification which are also long gone? Do we really need to be reminded to abstain from bestiality?

            He notes that it is easy to respond patronizingly to such texts and to explain them away as remnants of a primitive past. He notes, however, that most of Achrei Mot is concerned with the purity of leaders. Even Aaron must purify himself before engaging in sacrifices. Leaders who seem beyond reproach are subject to the same ethical challenges as all other human beings.

            The sages teach that power can stain those who possess it. These may be financial, ethical, or sexual improprieties among our own Jewish leaders or among the political leaders of the nations in which we dwell.   

            This parasha is in part a warning that no matter how skilled, no matter how politically astute, no matter how successful, and no matter how charismatic the leader may be, ethics matter. As we noted at our recently concluded seders, the story of the Exodus must be told in every generation. The directive of Achrei Mot, for ethical behavior by our leaders, also needs to be reiterated over and over again.

 

--