Torah Portion Shabbat Acharei Mot / Kedoshim – Called to Holiness
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Torah: Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15
Besorah: John 10:1-21
Iyar 12, 5785 / May 10, 2025
Shalom, friends!
This week’s reading of the double Torah portion Shabbat Acharei Mot / Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1–20:27), is a deeply foundational text in the Torah. It brings us into the sacred space of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and moves us through a range of commands that shape Israel into a holy nation.
These readings are paired with a Haftarah from Amos 9:7–15, where the prophet speaks both judgment and restoration over Israel, and a Besorah portion from John 10:1–21, where Yeshua describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
At the heart of all these texts is a consistent and urgent message: “Be holy, for I, Adonai your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)
You can download a printable copy of this portion along with study and reflection questions at the end of this post!
Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1–20:27
Understanding the Portion
The portion begins with the instructions for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the biblical calendar. Aaron the High Priest is given specific rituals for entering the Most Holy Place, including the offering of incense, the blood of atonement, and the release of the scapegoat into the wilderness. These rituals emphasized that sin is serious—but so is God’s desire to forgive and dwell among His people.
But holiness is not only about what happens in the Tabernacle. Kedoshim expands the call to holiness into everyday life—how we treat the poor, how we speak, how we worship, how we handle relationships, and how we conduct business. The famous command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) is not tucked into a section on emotion—it’s woven into laws about justice, honesty, and purity.
Leviticus 20 ends the portion by underscoring Israel’s unique calling:
“You are to be holy to Me, for I, Adonai, am holy, and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”
Leviticus 20:26
The Shape of Holiness
The word holy—kadosh in Hebrew—is one of the most repeated and yet most misunderstood words in the Bible. Many associate it with spiritual elitism, strict moralism, or a set of rigid rituals. But the Torah gives us a more grounded and deeply relational picture of what holiness really means.
Holiness is, at its core, about nearness to God. It is what sets Him apart, and it is what He calls us to share in—not because we’re perfect, but because He is merciful.
In Acharei Mot, the high priest enters the Most Holy Place with trembling and blood, representing all the people. In Kedoshim, God speaks directly to the people, calling them to reflect His character in every aspect of life—from how they treat the stranger and the widow, to how they speak, how they give, how they worship, and how they do business.
Holiness, then, is not only about separation—it’s about reflection. God says, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2) This isn’t a cold command—it’s a loving invitation. To be holy is to reflect His image, His justice, His compassion, His truth. It’s to take His name seriously in public and private.
Yeshua continues this call when He says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). The Greek word for “perfect” (teleios) means complete, mature—whole. Holiness is not flawlessness—it’s wholeness. It’s living in alignment with God’s heart in the everyday.
That’s why in John 10, Yeshua identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd. Holiness is not just about the law—it’s about love that guides, protects, lays down its life, and calls others by name. Holiness is not stiff and sterile. It is personal, costly, and life-giving.
To be holy, then, is not to isolate ourselves from the world—it’s to engage it as bearers of God’s presence. Like the priests of Israel, we represent the heart of heaven to the needs of the world.
This week, the question isn’t just: Am I obeying the rules? The question is: Am I reflecting the character of the One who called me? Am I a vessel for His truth, His justice, and His mercy?
Because holiness isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are becoming. Set apart. Set within His covenant. Set on fire with His love.
A Little Nugget
In Leviticus 19:14, God commands, “You shall not curse the deaf nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God.” On the surface, this may seem like a law about basic decency—but it’s far deeper.
This verse reveals something essential about holiness: it involves how we treat people who can’t fight back, who won’t even know they’ve been wronged. Holiness is not just about visible obedience—it’s about integrity in the hidden places.
And notice the motivation: “But you shall fear your God.” When no one else is watching, God still sees. Holiness is living as if His presence is always near—because it is.
This simple command captures the heart of Kedoshim: holiness means doing what is right, even when no one is looking, even when you could get away with less. Because holiness flows from reverence. And reverence leads to righteousness.
Application
Holiness, as outlined in Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, is not only about setting boundaries—it’s about building a different kind of society. These laws aren’t meant to isolate people in spiritual superiority; they’re designed to create a community where justice, compassion, and reverence for God are woven into daily life.
Ask yourself this week:
- How does my personal pursuit of holiness impact those around me?
- Am I contributing to a culture of dignity, honesty, and care in my home, workplace, or community?
Consider choosing one specific area from Leviticus 19—like fair business practices, speech, care for the marginalized, or family honor—and make that your intentional focus. Holiness grows when we make space for it, one choice at a time.
Haftarah: Amos 9:7–15
Understanding the Portion
Amos is a fiery prophet who begins by reminding Israel that God is not a tribal deity. He challenges their sense of entitlement:
“Are you not like the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O children of Israel?”
Amos 9:7
Yet by the end of the passage, the tone shifts. God promises a future restoration, where the fallen sukkah of David will be rebuilt, and blessings will overflow. Holiness isn’t just about discipline—it’s about destiny.
God’s holy people are called not to self-exaltation but to humility, justice, and hope.
A Little Nugget
Amos 9:13 offers a beautiful image: “The plowman will overtake the reaper.” In the Messianic age, blessing will come so fast that the rhythms of planting and harvest will blur. Holiness leads to fruitfulness.
Application
Are we living in light of God’s future promises, or stuck in past failures? Holiness isn’t just about what we leave behind. It’s about what we’re becoming—a people through whom blessing flows.
Besorah: John 10:1–21
Understanding the Portion
Yeshua identifies Himself as both the Gate and the Good Shepherd. He contrasts His care with the indifference of hired hands and the deception of thieves. His voice is personal:
“My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.”
This section speaks deeply to holiness. Yeshua is not just calling individuals to behave morally—He is gathering a community marked by love, truth, and sacrifice.
And His ultimate act of holiness? “I lay down My life for the sheep.”
A Little Nugget
When Yeshua says, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold,” He is already envisioning the in-gathering of the nations—Jews and Gentiles alike, united under one Shepherd. Holiness makes room.
Application
Are we following His voice, or just listening for convenience? Do we love like the Good Shepherd, or do we scatter when things get hard?
Reflection Questions for Torah Portion Shabbat Acharei Mot / Kedoshim
- What does Leviticus 19 reveal about how holiness is expressed in daily, practical choices?
- How does the Yom Kippur ritual of the scapegoat point us toward the atoning work of Yeshua? You can read more about the scapegoat here.
- In what ways does holiness call you to be set apart from cultural norms?
- How do justice and compassion reveal a holy heart?
- What does it mean to hear the voice of the Shepherd and follow Him—especially when His path leads to sacrifice?
Hebrew Lesson for the Week: Aleph (א)
This week we return to the beginning of the Hebrew alphabet with Aleph (א), a letter rich in mystery and spiritual depth.
The Basics of Aleph Sound: Aleph is silent; it carries no sound of its own. Numerical Value: 1 Appearance: Formed by combining two Yuds and a diagonal Vav—mystically hinting at divine unity and connection between heaven and earth.
How Aleph Is Written
א
Aleph’s unique form and silence represent the unseen and unspeakable majesty of God. It begins the word Elohim (God), Emet (truth), and Av (Father). It reminds us that God is the source of all things, even when He is hidden.
Spiritual Meaning of Aleph
Aleph is the letter of beginning, of oneness, and of humility. Though it is the first letter, it doesn’t boast. It’s silent. It reminds us that true leadership and holiness begin with quiet strength and unseen foundation.
- Exodus 3:14 – “I AM who I AM” (ehyeh asher ehyeh) begins with Aleph.
- Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and trust is your strength.”
A Little Nugget
Aleph is also the first letter in the Hebrew word Adam—human. It teaches us that God’s image is stamped into our identity. To grow in holiness is to grow into what God has designed us to be.
Application
This week, ask yourself:
- Am I making space for the quiet presence of God in my life?
- Where might He be calling me to lead in humility, not noise?
- Am I resting in His oneness, or striving in my own strength?
Let Aleph draw you back to the Source—the One who calls you holy, and makes you whole.
Shabbat Shalom and Shavua Tov! 🌟
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For a printable version of this portion along with study and reflection questions, follow the link below!
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Tree of Life (TLV) – Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society. Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.
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Diane Ferreira is a Jewish believer in Yeshua, seminary student, writer, wife, proud mom and bulldog mom. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Jewish Studies, with a special focus on early Messianic movements and Hebraic theology. Diane is passionate about connecting the deep roots of Jewish tradition with vibrant faith in the Messiah, offering practical and devotional insights for everyday believers.
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