Parshiot Achrei Mot-Kedoshim by Jeroen Reuven Bours

You can read this week’s Parasha without any commentaries and still every word will be clear to you. Without any interpretation of our Sages, the meaning of every word is understandable. Every custom and direction of how to make atonement is explained without much symbolism. If you do decide to follow the commentaries of lets say Rashi, you will see that Rashi doesn’t interpret, but rather underscores the gravity of the instructions and laws set upon Bnei Israel. This week we get the instruction to make atonement in the seventh month on the tenth day. It says to “treat this day as Shabbat on which no one shall work - neither we, nor the stranger who dwells among us.” This Parasha writes about how to make atonement first and what to make atonement for, afterwards. But there is another part that belongs to this week’s Parasha, and that is the part in the Siddur we read on Yom Kippur itself. In it, we find the ways to bid for forgiveness. We say on Yom Kippur: “Ashamnu, bagadnu, gazalnu…” - “We have become guilty, we have betrayed, we have robbed…” and so on. Exactly the sins which we learn about in this week’s Parasha. So the connection goes as follows: 1- We learn how to repent, through making precise offers in a precise way. 2- We learn what the sins are; What not to do. And, 3- In our Yom Kippur Siddurim we ask for forgiveness in a certain repetitive order. What’s in between this week’s learning of the sins and Yom Kippur’s asking for forgiveness, is life itself. Every year we walk the narrow path between good and evil. Yet no one can say that he or she can forget what the rules are. After all, we read them word for word this week. In this Parasha we are instructed to hold the “day of atonement” to reflect on the many do’s and don’ts. The command to hold this day of atonement - Yom Kippur, is put right in the middle of the Parasha - one could say; right between the part on how to gain forgiveness and the part with all the different sins. What does this mean? It is as if the prescribed “day of atonement” is there to remind us that it will be impossible to be perfect. Therefore, the Torah announces a special day to start all over again before we even start! From this Parasha, Hillel learned that if one could follow only one rule, it should be; To love another as oneself. The rest of the rules of good behavior would surely follow. We all know how a potential convert wanted Hillel to explain the complete Torah while standing on one leg. Hillel chose the words “Do upon another as you do upon yourself, the rest is commentary.” Was he right? Of course he was. Every year on the tenth day, in the seventh month we beg for forgiveness with the words; “Ashamnu, bagadnu, gazalnu…,” because we cannot be 100% good. We all try to stand on one leg, but only for so long.