Achrei Mot

📜 The Story

'Achrei Mot' means 'after the death.' The parsha begins after Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's two sons, died when they brought a fire God had not asked for. Now God teaches Aaron exactly how to enter the holiest place in the Tabernacle safely and carefully.

God says that only on one day a year, Yom Kippur, may the High Priest go into the Holy of Holies, the innermost room, where the Ark was kept. He had to wear plain white linen clothes instead of his golden ones. He brought incense and offerings for himself and for the whole nation.

On Yom Kippur, two goats were brought, and a lottery decided what would happen to each one. One goat was offered to God. The other was sent out into the desert, as a sign of carrying away the sins of Israel. That is where the English word 'scapegoat' comes from.

The parsha teaches more rules. Offerings may only be brought at the Tabernacle. It is forbidden to eat an animal's blood, because blood stands for life. Here we also find the words 'and live by them.' God gave us the mitzvot (commandments) so we can live good lives through them, not so they will harm us.

At the end, the Torah tells the Israelites to be holy and different. They should follow God's ways, not copy the customs of the nations around them.