Ahare Mot

Leviticus 16-18 

 The Sidrah tells us of the High Priest’s preparation for Yom Kippur. How solemn this day was, becomes clear from a study of the careful procedure required of the Kohen HaGadol in its observance. Only on Yom Kippur could the High Priest enter the Holy of Holies in which was the Ark of the Tablets. But neither the High Priest’s plea for forgiveness in the Holy of Holies not the other ritual acts which he performed on Yom Kippur could achieve final forgiveness for Israel. Each Israelite was required to fast and atone on his day. Together, then, High Priest and Israel, in sincerity, sought to achieve forgiveness of sins.

Also dealt with in the Sidrah are laws limiting sacrifices exclusively to the Tabernacle in order to prevent the establishment of worship shrines like those among pagan peoples. Finally, there are in the Sidrah the laws of Israel prohibiting marriage of very close relatives, something which was common among the Egyptians and the Canaanties.