Redeeming Relevance in the Book of Leviticus

Explorations in Text and Meaning

The Jewish people has a rather peculiar relationship with the book of Leviticus. On the one hand, almost all serious Jews are aware that many of Judaism’s most important laws and ideas are to be found in the Torah’s middle book. Yet in spite of these highlights, Leviticus also contains material that the average reader will find less stimulating. Many of its laws are directed to the priestly elite in charge of the Temple service. 

But Rabbi Nataf tells us that the Torah’s middle book is actually also its most important. That is because the sons ofAharon and their descendants serve as a model for the entire Jewish people. Once we know what is expected from them, we can have a better idea of what is expected from us.

As illustrated in this volume of Redeeming Relevance, the central Torah principle encrypted in Leviticus is nothing less than a call for all Jews to do their utmost to help the rest of mankind. This is the center of the Torah; the rest is commentary.