📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi Acharei Mos Kedoshim Chamishi: List of Mitzvos

📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 18:22–30

18:22 — Prohibited Relations with a Male

Q1. What is meant by “כְּמִשְׁכְּבֵי אִשָּׁה”?

A: It refers specifically to the manner of relations that constitute intercourse with a woman, which is forbidden here with a male.

18:23 — Relations with Animals

Q2. What does “תֶּבֶל הוּא” mean according to Rashi?

A:

• It denotes depravity that includes prostitution, incest, and adultery, or
• It refers to the unnatural mixing and confusion of human seed with animal seed.

18:24 — Defilement of the Nations

Q3. Why are Israel warned not to defile themselves with these acts?

A: Because the nations of Canaan defiled themselves with all these acts, and were therefore expelled.

18:25 — The Land Becomes Defiled

Q4. What does it mean that the land “became defiled”?

A: The land reacts to the sins of its inhabitants and therefore punished them.

18:28 — “Lest the Land Vomit You Out”

Q5. How does Rashi explain the metaphor of vomiting?

A: Like a prince who eats something revolting and cannot retain it, the Land of Israel cannot retain sinners.
Onkelos translates this as the land emptying itself of them.

18:29 — “The Souls That Do Them”

Q6. Why does Scripture say “הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הָעֹשׂוֹת”?

A: To include both the male and female participants.

18:30 — God’s Charge

Q7. Why is “וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּי” added?

A: To obligate the court to enforce these prohibitions.

Q8. What is implied by “אֲנִי ה’ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם”?

A: If you defile yourselves with these acts, you undermine your relationship with God and incur annihilation.

📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 19:15–32

19:15 — Justice in Judgment

Q9. What does “לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ עָוֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט” teach?

A: A judge who perverts judgment is called unjust, loathsome, condemned, and an abomination.

Q10. What does “לֹא תִשָּׂא פְנֵי־דָל” prohibit?

A: Showing favor to a poor litigant out of misplaced compassion.

Q11. What does “וְלֹא תֶהְדַּר פְנֵי־גָדוֹל” prohibit?

A: Showing deference to a great or wealthy litigant to avoid embarrassing him.

Q12. What is another explanation of “בְּצֶדֶק תִּשְׁפֹּט עֲמִיתֶךָ”?

A: Judge your fellow favorably, when possible.

19:16 — Gossip and Saving Life

Q13. What is the root meaning of “רָכִיל”?

A: One who goes about spying (מְרַגֵּל), visiting places to gather gossip.

Q14. Why is gossip called “going”?

A: Because it is always described with movement, unlike other kinds of slander.

Q15. What does “לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל דַּם רֵעֶךָ” require?

A: You must rescue someone in danger, even if personal risk is involved.

19:17 — Hatred and Rebuke

Q16. What does “לֹא־תִשָּׂא עָלָיו חֵטְא” mean?

A: When rebuking someone, do not embarrass him in public.

19:18 — Revenge, Grudges, and Love

Q17. What is an example of revenge (נְקִימָה)?

A: Refusing to lend something because the other person once refused you.

Q18. What is an example of bearing a grudge (נְטִירָה)?

A: Lending while saying, “I am not like you who refused me.”

Q19. What did Rabbi Akiva say about “וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ”?

A: It is a great principle of the Torah, underlying many commandments.

19:19 — Mixed Species

Q20. Why are these prohibitions called “חֻקִּים”?

A: They are decrees of the King with no stated rationale.

Q21. What does “שַׁעַטְנֵז” include?

A: Any wool‑linen mixture that is pressed, woven, or twisted together.

19:20 — The Designated Bondwoman

Q22. What does “נֶחֱרֶפֶת לְאִישׁ” mean?

A: She was designated for another man.

Q23. Why are they not put to death?

A: Because she was not fully freed, so her betrothal was incomplete.

Q24. What does “בִּקֹּרֶת תִּהְיֶה” imply?

A: She receives lashes, and the court investigates to confirm she was not fully free.

19:23–25 — Orlah and the Fourth Year

Q25. What does “וַעֲרַלְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֹ” mean?

A: The fruit must be blocked entirely from use for three years.

Q26. How is the fourth‑year fruit treated?

A: Like second tithe, eaten in Jerusalem or redeemed.

Q27. Why does the Torah promise increased yield?

A: To counter the evil inclination and encourage patience.

19:26–27 — Omens and the Body

Q28. What does “לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל־הַדָּם” prohibit?

A: Eating sacrificial meat before the blood is applied, or eating meat before the animal fully dies, among other interpretations.

Q29. What is prohibited by “לֹא תְנַחֲשׁוּ וְלֹא תְעוֹנֵנוּ”?

A: Acting on omens, divination, or auspicious times.

Q30. What is prohibited by rounding the corners of the head?

A: Cutting the hair so it forms a continuous circular boundary.

19:28 — Cuts and Tattoos

Q31. What are “שְׂרָטָה” and “קַעֲקַע”?

A:

• Cutting the flesh in mourning
• Permanent tattooing etched into the skin

19:29–30 — Daughter and Sanctuary

Q32. What does prostituting one’s daughter mean?

A: Allowing her extramarital relations.

Q33. What does reverence for the Sanctuary entail?

A: No walking staff, shoes, money‑belt, or dust on the Temple Mount.

19:31 — Divination

Q34. What are אוֹב and יִדְּעוֹנִי?

A:

• אוֹב: spirit conjured through the armpit
• יִדְּעוֹנִי: a bone placed in the mouth that speaks

19:32 — Honoring the Elderly

Q35. What kind of elder is meant by “זָקֵן”?

A: One who has acquired wisdom, not merely age.

Q36. What does respect entail?

A: Not sitting in his place, not speaking over him, and not contradicting him.

Q37. Why does it say “וְיָרֵאתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶיךָ”?

A: Because pretending not to notice an elder is known only to God, who knows intentions.