✡︎ Shabbat Shalom & Good Day ✡︎
In this week's Torah portions, Acharei-Kedoshim, HaShem guides the new nation of believers into a new kind of worship, one that prohibits child sacrifice and many other lifestyle choices commonplace in Egypt. Leviticus 17:21: And you shall not give any of your offspring to pass through for Molech. And you shall not profane the Name of your God. I am the Lord.
And Leviticus 20:1-7:
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, And to the children of Israel, you shall say: Any man of the children of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall pelt him with stones. And I will set My attention upon that man, and I will cut him off from amidst his people, because he gave of his offspring to Molech in order to defile My holy ones and to profane My holy Name. But if the people of the land ignore that man when he gives of his offspring to Molech, not putting him to death. l set My attention upon that man, and upon his family, and I will cut him off, and all who stray after him to stray after Molech, from amidst their people. And the person who turns to Ov or Yid'oni, to stray after them I will set My attention upon that person, and I will cut him off from amidst his people. You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord, your God.
Knowing that many people would fall short and relapse into pagan attitudes and routines, HaShem also introduces priestly sacrificial rituals that atone for the sins committed by the Jews who were distracted, weak and afraid to step into a new life-centered, Torah based existence. We offer a prayer of repentance to HaShem as we seek atonement for Israel's ongoing sin of child sacrifice.
My God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of ourselves and of the city upon which Your Name is proclaimed. For it is not on account of our righteousness that we offer our supplication before You, but because of Your abundant mercies. Lord, hear; Lord forgive; Lord, be attentive, and act and do not delay; for your sake, my God, for your Name is proclaimed upon Your city and upon Your people. Amen.
From Selicot According to the Chabad Custom. Merklos L'Inyonei Chinuch.p.8.
