Leviticus / Vayikra

G-d: “Follow My Laws”
I will provde rain, and peace
And make you fertile

If you don’t obey
Then there will be punishment
Bad things will happen

But G-d will forgive
Remember the covenant
When the sinning stops

This portion ends the Book of Leviticus

Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek

Disclaimer: I’m not a believer in the idea of a direct reward-for-obeying / punishment-for-sinning model of G-d’s response to our behavior. But this post is, I believe, a more-or-less accurate summary of what this week’s parasha literally teaches.

We are commanded
Don’t gossip or bear a grudge
Do not take revenge

But we’re just human
These aren’t easy to avoid
It’s takes some effort

Be holy like G-d?
We may never achieve it
Still, we keep trying

If a son is born
Ritual uncleanliness
Will last seven days

But if it’s a girl
The mother must wait two weeks
With status “unclean”