ACHAREI MOT: Hashem instructs the kohanim to exercise extreme care when they enter the Mishkan. On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol is to approach the holiest part of the Mishkan after special preparations and in special clothing. He brings offerings that are unique for Yom Kippur, including the two identical goats that are designated by lottery. One is "for Hashem" and is offered in the Temple, while the other is "for Azazel" in the desert. The Torah states the individual's obligations on Yom Kippur: On the 10th day of the seventh month, one must afflict oneself. We abstain from eating and drinking, anointing, wearing leather footwear, washing, and marital relations.

Consumption of blood is prohibited. The blood of slaughtered birds and undomesticated beasts must be covered. The people are warned against engaging in the wicked practices that were common in Egypt. Incest is defined and prohibited. Marital relations are forbidden during a women's monthly cycle. Homosexuality, bestiality and child sacrifice are prohibited.

KEDOSHIM: The nation is enjoined to be holy. Many prohibitions and positive commandments are taught: Prohibitions: Idolatry; eating offerings after their time-limit; theft and robbery; denial of theft; false oaths; retention of someone's property; delaying payment to an employee; hating or cursing a fellow Jew (especially one's parents); gossip; placing physical and spiritual stumbling blocks; perversion of justice; inaction when others are in danger; embarrassing; revenge; bearing a grudge; cross-breeding; wearing a garment of wool and linen; harvesting a tree during its first three years; gluttony and intoxication; witchcraft; shaving the beard and sideburns; and tattooing.

Positive: Awe for parents and respect for the elderly; leaving part of the harvest for the poor; loving others (especially a convert); eating fruits from a tree's 4th year in Jerusalem; awe for the Temple; respect for Torah scholars, the blind and the deaf.

"You shall keep My statutes and My laws... and he shall live in them."(18:5) QUESTION: What does the Torah emphasize with the words "vechai bahem" -- "he shall live in them"? ANSWER: When one is young and strong, Torah and mitzvot may not be his priority. He may be deeply involved in worldly matters and financial accomplishment. Upon becoming older and inactive, he may begin to study Torah and become occupied with the performance of mitzvot. Hashem negates such conduct and proclaims, "These are my statutes and laws which a person should do while 'vechia bahem' -- when still full of life - young and active."

"You shall not withold a worker's wage with you until morning."(19:13) QUESTION: To what extent should one go to fulfill this precept? ANSWER: The famous Chassidic Rabbi, Reb Zusha of Hanipole, was very poor. His wife once complained that for many years she had not had the opportunity to buy a new dress. She could no longer suffer and demanded that he get some money to enable her to have a new dress sewn, and he complied. On erev Shabbat, Reb Zusha noticed that his wife was very thoughtful and subdued. "Why aren't you more cheerful?" he asked in amazement, "You already have your new dress, be happy." She told him that when she came to the tailor to pick up her new dress, she noticed that he was very sad. When she inquired about his sadness, he told her that his daughter became a kallah not long ago. Recently, the chatan visited his home, and noticed that he was sewing a new dress. The chatan was under the impression that the dress was being sewn for his kallah, and was quite pleased. However, when he found out that it was not so, he became extremely upset. The tailor concluded, "Now I am afraid that because of his disappointment, the engagement will fall through, and my daughter will not marry." "The tailor's dilemma, moved me so, that I told him to keep this dress as a present for his daughter, and thus I am where I began. I still do not have a new dress." Reb Zusha, after hearing his wife's story, had only one question to ask her, "Tell me, did you at least pay the tailor for his work?" His wife, in amazement, asked, "I do not understand you. Do you expect me to pay him, when I gave him the dress to keep?" Reb Zusha told his wife, "This is no excuse. The poor tailor worked an entire week to sew a dress for you, expecting to receive money to buy food for Shabbat. If you want to do a mitzvah and give your dress to his daughter, that is your business, but he deserves to be paid for his work." Following the instructions of her husband, she immediately paid the tailor.

"You shall love your friend as yourself" (19:18) QUESTION: How can it be demanded of one to love a stranger as much as oneself? ANSWER: Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Chassidut explains it in the following way: Every Jew consists of two parts, a guf (body) and a neshamah (soul). While all Jews are separated by the fact that they are different bodies, they are really like one when it comes to the neshamah. This is because all neshamot are a part of Hashem, and Hashem is the father of us all. With this realization, it is easy to love the other Jew as oneself, because through our neshamot we are all one.