Acharei Mot

The twenty-ninth reading from the Torah and sixth reading from Leviticus is named Acharei Mot (אחרי מות), two words that mean "after the death." This portion begins what is regarded as lev ha’torah (the heart of the Torah) and emphasizes how the Creator is to be approached and uses the death of Aaron’s sons to make the point that it must not be done “at all times.”

The first section details the protocol and procedures of Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. In this we see shades of Y’shua’s sacrifice as our heavenly High Priest as well as accentuating the fact that our Father is holy and, as his priests, we are not to disregard that holiness.

The sidrah also addresses the pollution of idols, the sanctity of blood and forbidden relationships – all principles addressed in the letter sent from Jerusalem to the new believers in Acts 15.