Parashat Kedoshim introduces the essential principle of Jewish morality, the imitation of God. “Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, your God יהוה, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).  Who is holy, to this verse? One who imitates the Holy One Blessed Be. What is morality, imitation of God. 

The Parasha is replete with Mitzvot: feed the needy, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t rob, don’t curse, don’t gossip, don’t hate, don’t avenge. It also includes the famous Mitzvah of leaving untouched the side-locks (Peot) and the beard for men as well as the Mitzvah of loving the stranger “as you were strangers in the land of Egypt”.  

But one rough Mitzvah is begging for a new interpretation especially in the light of the 7 of October, Holocaust Commemoration Day, last week, and Yom HaZikaron coming up next week (ויקרא 20:2) “…anyone among the Israelites… who gives… offspring (as a human sacrifice) to (the fire god) Moloch, shall be put to death; the people of the land shall pelt that person with stones”. 

Ovadia Sforno, an Italian sage of the 16th century writes: “…after Moshe had explained G’d’s plan to sanctify the Israelites… (so they) become… like Him (or imitate him – as we learned at the beginning of the Parasha), and… taught them the path to achieve that aim (the Mitzvot), then the Torah proceeds to warn of philosophies (or paths) which produce the opposite result (making us unholy)… (such as)… the cult of the Moloch (who would sacrifice their children to their God by throwing them into a burning pit). 

Who sacrifices to Moloch now-a-days? In the 20th century it was the Nazis. Their abuse derived from a murderous and cruel Philosophy, just like the Moloch. Their god was nationalism compounded with their infamous race theory. The burnt sacrifice were… us Jews. In the 21st century Hamas believes in the god of Palestinian nationalism and sacrifices its own offsprings as Shahids – martyr murderers. As the Torah teaches, the stoning of both is understandable and justifiable. 

The alternative to the Moloch, commanded in this Parasha, appears in chapter 19 verse 18:  “… Love your fellow as yourself: I am יהוה. In the 1st century b.c.e. Hillel the Elder said: “Do not do unto your fellow that which is hateful to you” (Talmud Tractate Shabbat 31a). This was Hillel’s version of the bible’s “love your fellow as yourself”. In the 2 century c.e. Rabbi Akiva said: “The verse: ‘Love your fellow as yourself’ is the greatest Torah principle” (Bereshit Rabah 24:7). According to Judaism there is no room in this world for cruelty or for philosophies of cruelty, end of story.  This is the meaning of imitating God, and of true morality.