My Search for a Church
Twenty-five years ago when I was in divinity school in Rochester, New York searching for a church to worship, God led me to a reform synagogue. It was a blessing to me, and a perfect way for me to get to know God because that’s why I was living in New York in the first place. I began studying Hebrew and joined Torah Study, deepening my understanding of God’s word.
The Scapegoat: A Symbol of Redemption
One of the profound lessons from our Torah portion Acharei Mot Kedoshim is the concept of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:10. The idea of laying all the community’s sins on one goat and sending it into the wilderness as a symbolic cleansing act is powerful. For me, it’s the same story of Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, bearing the burden of our sins in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus became our scapegoat, making it possible for us to be cleansed and forgiven.
Facing the Challenge of Sexual Sin
Discussing sexual sin isn’t easy, but it’s important to understand what God desires, laid all out in Leviticus 18. Sometimes, standing by God’s word feels like going against the current of the world, but remember, you have free will. You can choose this path of holiness God lays out for you or not. I’m not judging you, I’m just sharing what the Bible says about sexual sin.
Let’s break down the sexual sins mentioned in Leviticus individually. This list highlights each of the prohibitions, explaining them in a straightforward and friendly manner:
1. Incest: Do not engage in sexual relations with a close relative. This includes family members like parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and in-laws. Incest is considered a boundary violation that disrupts family harmony and order.
2. Adultery: Avoid sexual relations with your neighbor’s spouse. Adultery betrays trust and undermines the commitment of marriage, leading to personal and social harm.
3. Fornication: Engaging in sexual activity outside the bonds of marriage is discouraged, as it affects emotional and spiritual relationships and carries the risk of complicating life paths.
4. Child Sacrifice: It refers to a ritual practice existent in ancient times when people offered their children to the god Molech, similar to abortion today. This prohibition is a sexual sin because the main reason for most abortions is that the baby is unwanted by the parents who engaged in fornication.
5. Bestiality: Do not engage in sexual acts with animals, as this is seen as unnatural and an offensive act that violates the natural order established by God.
6. Sodomy: The Torah emphasizes relationships according to traditional and historical interpretations, focusing on marriage between a man and a woman. Unlike many modern perspectives, sodomy is an abomination to God.
7. Ritual Impurity: Avoid sexual intercourse during a woman’s menstrual period. This was seen as maintaining ritual purity and respecting natural cycles.
These teachings from Leviticus call for clear lines of moral and ethical behavior, focusing on purity, respect, and the sacred nature of relationships. This conversation can be sensitive and cause resentment towards God because so many people are involved in sexual sin.
If any questions arise or further exploration is needed, I encourage a loving, thoughtful approach reflecting God’s grace and wisdom. This Torah study theme continues God’s plan of holiness for humanity. I encourage you to walk in holiness, as God tells you to in Leviticus 19:2, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.”
God bless, Shirah Chante, Relationship Artist
