Triennial Cycle III: Lev. 23:23-24:23
Humash Etz Hayim, page 727
Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31, page 735
Chapter 23 is called Seder Ha-Moa’dim — the Order of the Festivals
- (23:23-32) “The Day of Remembering the Shofar’s Sound”: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
- (23:33-34) The laws concerning the holiday of Sukkot.
- (24:1-4) The Eternal Light.
- (24:5-9) The Showbread.
- (24:10-12) An incident of blasphemy (cursing God).
- (24:13-16) The punishment of the blasphemer—death by stoning—and the announcement of the law of blasphemy for the future.
- (24:17-23) Other laws that have major penalties: murder and severe injury.
Drash- David Hoffman
The curious incident of the nameless blasphemer.
Beginning in Chapter 24, line 10:
“There came out among the Israelites one whose mother was Israelite and whose father was Egyptian. And a fight broke out in the camp between that half-Israelite and a certain Israelite. The son of the Israelite woman pronounced the Name in blasphemy, and he was brought to Moses. Now his mother’s name was Shelomith, daughter of Divri of the tribe of Dan…And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take the blasphemer outside the camp; and let all who were within hearing lay their hands upon his head, and let the whole community stone him. And to the Israelite people speak thus: Anyone who blasphemes his God shall be his guilt; if he also pronounces the name Lord, he shall be put to death. The whole community shall stone him; stranger or citizen, if he has thus pronounced the Name, he shall be brought to death.”
Some sources call this an “object lesson” to hone in the concept of holiness and the power of words. Some commentators relate this story back to an earlier part of the Parasha – “You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people.” (Lev. 22:32)
What is profanation of God’s name? Rab said that it would profane God’s Name if a Torah scholar took meat from a butcher without paying promptly… Isaac of the School of Rabbi Jannai said that it would profane God’s Name if one’s bad reputation caused colleagues to become ashamed. So if people see that those who study Torah and Mishnah are honest in business and speak pleasantly, then they will accord honor to the Name of God. But if people see that those who study Torah and Mishnah are dishonest in business and discourteous, then they will associate their shortcomings with their being Torah scholars, causing shame and disgrace. (Babylonian Talmud Yoma 86a.)
Words and actions need to be consistent, and we need to be mindful of what we say and how we act toward others.
Careful the words you say, children will listen,
Careful the things you do, children will see… and learn.
Children may not obey, but children will listen.
Children will look to you, for which way to turn, to learn what to be.
Careful before you say, ‘listen to me’ Children will listen.
…Sondheim, Into the Woods