Emor #1- Watching Mitzvot?

The Torah tells us in this week’s parsha, “u’shmartem es mitzvosai, v’aseesem osum — watch the mitzvot and do them” (Vayikra 22:31). What does watch mitzvot mean? If one does a mitzvah he is surely doing more than watching them. According to Torah.org perhaps we should look out for mitzvot to do. We have many times to do mitzvot but sometimes miss the opportunity so this passuk is saying look for mitzvot that aren't clearly in front of you

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim #4- Gossip and Bystanders

Acharei Mot Kedoshim #2

In Perek 19, Pasuk 16, it says, "לא תלך רכיל בעמיך לא תעמד על דם רעך"

“You shall not be a gossip monger (one who advocates gossip) among your people; you shall not stand by while your fellow’s blood is being shed.” 

QUESTION: What is the link between these two commandments?

ANSWER: Chizkuni says, To speak evil against another Jew — even if it is true — is a very serious sin. However, one who stands by when his friend is being harmed, commits a greater sin. How do we know this? Because if a person knew an aggressor was planning on harming a specific person, one is not only permitted but obligated to warn the intended victim. Doing nothing is a violation of the mitzvah, “You shall not stand by while your fellow’s blood is being shed.”  Therefore, they are put next to each other, in order to stress the severity of the commandment. We know that one who gossips gets tzaraat, and one who gets tzaraat is compared to one who's dead. Therefore, if the second commandment of " ...לא תעמד" is intuitively worse than "...לא תלך רכיל" kal vichomer, should we try to avoid committing this sin.  Because following Chizkuni's logic means that a person who stands by his friend being harmed, is worse than someone who is dead or compared to dead.

What are more connections between the two commandments? Why does the first commandment say " בעמיך"? shouldn't we refrain from speaking gossip about all people? What are more interpretations of these commandments? Why are these commandments significant? 

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim 3- Fearing Parents

In this weeks Parsha, Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, the pasuk says, "Every man shall fear his mother and his father" (19:3). 

What is the reason that fearing your mother is written before fearing your father?

The Gemara in Kiddushin Daf 31A says that in Shmot 20:12 it says to honor your father and your mother. The reason behind this is due to the fact that a person admires their mother more, and fears their father more. For this reason, the Torah writes the opposite of human nature in the Torah to show that a person should honor and fear both of their parents equally.

What other reasons are they written in that specific order for?

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim 2- Why Everyone

Vayikra 19:2 

Why was Parshat kedoshim said in front of all of the people? How is this parsha different from other parshas? Ohr.edu says that Parshat Kedoshim is different because it is relevant to everyone. 

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim 1- Parents vs. Shabbos

In this week parsha, Perek 19, passuk 3, it mentions that Shabbat observance supersede honoring parents, what could be a reason for this? One reason is according to OhrSamayach.com and they say it is because the parents are also commanded by Hashem to observe Shabbat. Parents deserve great honor, but not at the "expense" of Hashem's honor.

Tazria/Metzora- Birds, Stick and Grass?

In this week's parsha, Tazria-Metzorah, one of the topics is on tazaraat and people who get tzaraat, called metzorot. There are many things that need to be done in order to purify a metzorah, but one of the things the parsha mentions is that two birds, a cedar stick, and aizov-grass are used to purify the metzorah. What is the purpose/ symbolism of these items, and why are the used here?

The Midrash explains that the main sin that tzaraat was used as a punishment for was lashon hara. Therefore, the birds symbolize that the metzorah acted like a bird, chirping constantly and not watching what they say. Then, one of the two birds is slaughtered, symbolizing that if you speak lashon hara you may cause trouble and death. The other bird is let free, with the purpose to spread the message that if you watch your tongue, you gain life. What other reasons could there be for the two birds, or for the ceder stick and the aizov-grass?

Tazria/Metzora- Outside the Camp

In Perek 13, Pasuk 46 the torah says “כָּל־יְמֵ֞י אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַנֶּ֥גַע בּ֛וֹ יִטְמָ֖א טָמֵ֣א ה֑וּא בָּדָ֣ד יֵשֵׁ֔ב מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖המוֹשָׁבֽוֹ׃ 

A person with tzarat is required to live outside the camp for as long as he has tzarat. According to Rashi, the reason for this is that by saying lashon hara this person caused a rift between people. Therefore, he also deserves to be separated from the rest of society. Why else might a person with tzar need to live outside the camp?