Community

Torah Portion

Sins, Transgressions
Weaken Social Fabric

(Sanhedrin 74A). These three transgres-
sions are among those that all human
beings, Jew as well and non-Jew, are for-
bidden to engage in (Sanhedrin 56A).
Any culture or society that does not
protect human life, nor preserve the
family as the basic reproductive and cul-
tural unit, nor base its standards of right
his week's Torah portion con-
and wrong on some objective morality
tains a whole list of sexual
through religion, cannot survive.
prohibitions, including
Without a morality based on these three
incest, adultery, bestiality and
foundations, we would be living in a
male homosexual relations.
jungle like animals. The strong would
The Torah warns us (Leviticus 18:24-
victimize the weak.
28): "Do not defile yourselves with any
The Torah tells us that the
of these (prohibited sexual
Jewish people living in the
acts) because with all of these
Land of Israel cannot remain
were defiled the nations that I
an independent society with-
will expel (from the land)
out this basis and would cer-
before you. And the land will
tainly not survive. The Jewish
be defiled and I will punish its
people were bidden to create
sin upon it and the land will
a just and moral society based
vomit out its inhabitants.
on the laws of Torah, with
"You shall keep my statutes
these three commandments as
and my judgements and do
its foundation.
not do any of these abomina-
Without the respect for
tions — the citizen and the
RABBI ELIEZER
human
life, without the cen-
stranger dwells among you.
CO HEN
trality
of
the family and with-
Because of all these abomina-
Specia / to the
out
the
recognition
of the
tions were done by the people
Jewish News
divine imperative, justice and
of the land, before you, and
morality are impossible.
the land was defiled. That the
It is no wonder, then, that there are
land should not vomit you out when
two commandments that the Torah tells
you defile it, like it vomited out the
us will prolong the time the Jewish peo-
nations before you."
ple will remain on their land. One is
The Torah states that the transgres-
(Exodus 20:12): "Honor your father and
sion of these sins actually defiles the land
your mother in order to prolong your
itself, causing it to expel the sinful
days upon the land that the Lord your
nation. Similar phrases are also used by
God gives to you." The strength of fam-
the Torah when speaking of murder
ily in nurturing and educating the next
(Numbers 35:33-34): "Do not pollute
generation is vital to a moral society.
the land you are on because blood (shed)
The second is (Deuteronomy 25:15):
pollutes the land ... and do not defile the
"Accurate and honest weights you
land upon which you dwell ..."
shall have in order to prolong your
Thus, the Torah tells us that a society
days on the land that the Lord your
steeped in sexual immorality and mur-
God gives to you." To maintain a just
der in some way (at least figuratively)
society, honesty in business and corn-
pollutes the very land upon which it
merce, reflecting respect for one's fel-
dwells. Likewise, the Torah also warns
the Jewish people in reference to making low, is essential, and such a society can
maintain itself and thrive.
and worshipping idols (Detueronomy
Family and respect for others, sancti-
4:26): "I call upon the heavens of the
ty of life and belief in a reality greater
earth as witnesses against you today that
than oneself are the foundations of the
you will perish quickly from the land
Torah and the basis for a civilized, moral
that you are crossing the Jordan to
inherit; your days.shall not be long upon and vital society. ❑
it because you will be destroyed."
So according to the Torah, sexual
immorality, bloodshed and idolatry are
sins for which national exile and
Are there any laws more funda-
destruction are the result. It is certainly
mental than these? 'Why is family
no coincidence that these very same
so
important and how can sexual
transgressions are the ones that, accord-
immorality
undermine the family
ing to Jewish law, we are obligated to
unit?
Does
martyrdom
make
accept martyrdom rather than transgress
sense? Is morality possible without
the belief in God?
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation

Shabbat Acharei Mot:
Leviticus 16.1-18:30;
Amos 9:7-15.

T

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