12 Iyyar 5781
April 24, 2021

Parashat Acharei Mot
“After the death”

Parashat Kedoshim
“Holy ones”

Here are the Torah, Haftarah and suggested Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and Tehillim (Psalms) readings for this week.

Acharei Mot

• Leviticus 16:1-18:30
• Amos 9:7-15 (A)
• Ezekiel 22:1-16 (S)
• Acts 15:13-21
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-20
• Psalm 26

But I – I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me and be gracious to me. My feet stand on level ground. In congregations I will bless Adonai.
(Psalm 26:11-12 TLV)

Kedoshim

• Leviticus 19:1-20:27
• Ezekiel 22:1-16 (A)
• Ezekiel 20:2-20 (S)
• Matthew 5:43-48
• Psalm 15

A psalm of David.
Adonai, who may dwell in Your tent?
Who may live on Your holy mountain?
The one who walks with integrity, who does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart…
(Psalm 15:1-2 TLV)

The seven aliyot readings from the Torah for the combined portions Acharei Mot and Kedoshim begin at these verses:

1. Leviticus 16:1
2. Leviticus 16:25
3. Leviticus 17:8
4. Leviticus 18:22
5. Leviticus 19:15
6. Leviticus 19:33
7. Leviticus 20:8

Maftir: Leviticus 20:25

In Acharei Mot and Kedoshim

The Key People include Moshe (Moses), Aharon (Aaron) and sons, and the assembly.

The Scene is the tabernacle, in the wilderness of Sinai.

The Main Events in Acharei Mot include advice to approach God carefully after the death of Aharon’s sons; to follow the order of ritual specified in detail; to atone for the sanctuary (Tent of Meeting) and for the assembly (the people and the priests); information about Yom Kippur offerings; a reminder that the life is in the blood and there is only one place, the altar, for making sacrifices; the spiritual connection between the altar, the priests, and the assembly; advice to keep holy after all is cleansed and to avoid immoral behavior; warning that the land vomits out its unclean inhabitants; and the necessity of holiness so that God will continue to dwell in His nation.

The Main Events in Kedoshim include the LORD telling Moshe to say, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy;” various laws to keep the people holy; and a list of punishments for sin.

Adonai said to Moses: Speak to Bnei-Yisrael and say to them: I am Adonai your God. You are not to act as they do in the land of Egypt, where you used to live. Nor are you to act as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, nor are you to walk in their customs. You are to obey My ordinances and keep My statutes and walk in them—I am Adonai your God. So you are to keep My statutes and My ordinances. The one who does them will live by them. I am Adonai.
(Leviticus 18:1-5 TLV)

The Haftarah

“For behold, I have commanded, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, like grain being tossed in a sieve, without a pebble falling to the ground. By the sword shall all the sinners of My people die, those who say: ‘The calamity will not overtake or confront us.’ “In that day I will raise up David’s fallen sukkah. I will restore its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in days of old —so they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations called by My Name.” It is a declaration of Adonai, the One who will do this.
(Amos 9:9-12 TLV)

The Brit Chadasha

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the pagans do that, don’t they? Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
(Matthew 5:46-48 TLV)

Torah Portion readings and the associated Haftarah readings generally follow the Stone Edition Chumash and/or the Complete Jewish Bible. Verse numbering generally follows the Hebrew tradition, and where modern Christian traditions differ those verse numbers are shown in parentheses (). Haftarah readings generally follow the Ashkenazi tradition. Where the Sephardic tradition differs, the Haftarah portions are designated as (A) and (S). Suggested New Testament readings are taken from various sources. Suggested Psalm readings are from the Messianic Siddur for Shabbat by Daniel Perek. The Key People, The Scenes, and The Main Events are taken from the Walk! series of Messianic Devotion Commentaries by Dr. Jeffrey Enoch Feinberg. Scripture taken from the Tree of Life Version (TLV) © 2015 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. Used by permission of the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.