Parashat Bechukotai - Insights and Questions

Published: May 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Torah Text (Bechukotai)

Read the biblical text and try to understand it on your own, before reading the commentary.

ג אִם בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ וְאֶת מִצְוֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם׃

26:3 Im bechukotai telekhu ve'et mitzvotai tishmeru va'asitem otam

ד וְנָתַתִּי גִשְׁמֵיכֶם בְּעִתָּם וְנָתְנָה הָאָרֶץ יְבוּלָהּ וְעֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ׃

4 Venatati gishmeikhem be'itam venatenah ha'aretz yevulah ve'etz hasadeh yiten piryo

ה וְהִשִּׂיג לָכֶם דַּיִשׁ אֶת בָּצִיר וּבָצִיר יַשִּׂיג אֶת זָרַע וַאֲכַלְתֶּם לַחְמְכֶם לָשֹׂבַע וִישַׁבְתֶּם לָבֶטַח בְּאַרְצְכֶם׃

5 Vehisig lakhem dayish et batzir uvatzir yasig et zara va'akhaltem lachmekhem lasova vishavtem lavetach be'artzekhem

ו וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּם וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי חַיָּה רָעָה מִן הָאָרֶץ וְחֶרֶב לֹא תַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶם׃

6 Venatati shalom ba'aretz ushkhavtem ve'ein macharid vehishbati chayah ra'ah min ha'aretz vecherev lo ta'avor be'artzekhem

ז וּרְדַפְתֶּם אֶת אֹיְבֵיכֶם וְנָפְלוּ לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָרֶב ח וְרָדְפוּ מִכֶּם חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה יִרְדֹּפוּ וְנָפְלוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָרֶב׃

7 Urdaftem et oyveikhem venaflu lifneikhem lechаrev

ט וּפָנִיתִי אֲלֵיכֶם וְהִפְרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם׃

8 Veradfu mikhem chamishah me'ah ume'ah mikhem revavah yirdofu venaflu oyveikhem lifneikhem lacharev

י וַאֲכַלְתֶּם יָשָׁן נוֹשָׁן וְיָשָׁן מִפְּנֵי חָדָשׁ תּוֹצִיאוּ׃

9 Ufaniti aleikhem vehifreiti etkhem vehirbeiti etkhem vahakimoti et briti itkhem

יא וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְעַל נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶם׃

10 Va'akhaltem yashan noshan veyashan mipnei chadash totzi'u

יב וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ לִי לְעָם׃

11 Venatati mishkani betokhekhem velo tig'al nafshi etkhem

יג אֲנִי יְדוָד אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִהְיֹת לָהֶם עֲבָדִים וָאֶשְׁבֹּר מֹטֹת עֻלְּכֶם וָאוֹלֵךְ אֶתְכֶם קוֹמְמִיּוּת׃

12 Vehithalakhti betokhekhem vehayiti lakhem l'Elohim ve'atem tihyu li le'am

יד וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת הָאֵלֶּה׃

13 Ani Adonai Eloheikhem asher hotzeti etkhem me'eretz Mitzrayim mihyot lahem avadim va'eshbor motot ulkhem va'olekh etkhem komemiyut

טו וְאִם בְּחֻקֹּתַי תִּמְאָסוּ וְאִם אֶת מִשְׁפָּטַי תִּגְעַל נַפְשְׁכֶם לְבִלְתִּי עֲשׂוֹת אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתַי לְהַפְרְכֶם אֶת בְּרִיתִי׃

14 Ve'im lo tishme'u li velo ta'asu et kol hamitzvot ha'eleh

טז אַף אֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה זֹּאת לָכֶם וְהִפְקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם בֶּהָלָה אֶת הַשַּׁחֶפֶת וְאֶת הַקַּדַּחַת מְכַלּוֹת עֵינַיִם וּמְדִיבֹת נָפֶשׁ וּזְרַעְתֶּם לָרִיק זַרְעֲכֶם וַאֲכָלֻהוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם׃

15 Ve'im bechukotai tim'asu ve'im et mishpatai tig'al nafshekhem levilti asot et kol mitzvotai lehafrekhem et briti

יז וְנָתַתִּי פָנַי בָּכֶם וְנִגַּפְתֶּם לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם וְרָדוּ בָכֶם שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם וְנַסְתֶּם וְאֵין רֹדֵף אֶתְכֶם׃

16 Af ani e'eseh zot lakhem vehifkadti aleikhem behalah et hashachefet ve'et hakadachat mekhalot einayim umedivot nafesh uzra'tem larik zar'akhem va'akhaluhu oyveikhem

יח וְאִם עַד אֵלֶּה לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וְיָסַפְתִּי לְיַסְּרָה אֶתְכֶם שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם׃

17 Venatati fanai bakhem venigaftem lifnei oyveikhem veradu vakhem son'eikhem venastem ve'ein rodef etkhem

יט וְשָׁבַרְתִּי אֶת גְּאוֹן עֻזְּכֶם וְנָתַתִּי אֶת שְׁמֵיכֶם כַּבַּרְזֶל וְאֶת אַרְצְכֶם כַּנְּחֻשָׁה׃

18 Ve'im ad eleh lo tishme'u li veyasafti leyasrah etkhem sheva al chatoteikhem

כ וְתַם לָרִיק כֹּחֲכֶם וְלֹא תִתֵּן אַרְצְכֶם אֶת יְבוּלָהּ וְעֵץ הָאָרֶץ לֹא יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ׃

19 Veshavarti et ge'on uzkhem venatati et shmeikhem kabarzel ve'et artzekhem kanechushah

כא וְאִם תֵּלְכוּ עִמִּי קֶרִי וְלֹא תֹאבוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ לִי וְיָסַפְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַכָּה שֶׁבַע כְּחַטֹּאתֵיכֶם׃

20 Vetam larik kochakhem velo titen artzekhem et yevulah ve'etz ha'aretz lo yiten piryo

כב וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּי בָכֶם אֶת חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה וְשִׁכְּלָה אֶתְכֶם וְהִכְרִיתָה אֶת בְּהֶמְתְּכֶם וְהִמְעִיטָה אֶתְכֶם וְנָשַׁמּוּ דַּרְכֵיכֶם׃

21 Ve'im telkhu imi keri velo tovu lishmo'a li veyasafti aleikhem makah sheva kechatoteikhem

כג וְאִם בְּאֵלֶּה לֹא תִוָּסְרוּ לִי וַהֲלַכְתֶּם עִמִּי קֶרִי׃

22 Vehishlachti vakhem et chayat hasadeh veshiklah etkhem vehikhritah et behemtekhem vehim'itah etkhem venashamu darkheikhem

כד וְהָלַכְתִּי אַף אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם בְּקֶרִי וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶתְכֶם גַּם אָנִי שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם׃

23 Ve'im be'eleh lo tivasru li vahalakhtem imi keri

כה וְהֵבֵאתִי עֲלֵיכֶם חֶרֶב נֹקֶמֶת נְקַם בְּרִית וְנֶאֱסַפְתֶּם אֶל עָרֵיכֶם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי דֶבֶר בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְנִתַּתֶּם בְּיַד אוֹיֵב׃

24 Vehalakhti af ani imakhem bekeri vehikeiti etkhem gam ani sheva al chatoteikhem

כו בְּשִׁבְרִי לָכֶם מַטֵּה לֶחֶם וְאָפוּ עֶשֶׂר נָשִׁים לַחְמְכֶם בְּתַנּוּר אֶחָד וְהֵשִׁיבוּ לַחְמְכֶם בַּמִּשְׁקָל וַאֲכַלְתֶּם וְלֹא תִשְׂבָּעוּ׃

25 Veheveti aleikhem cherev nokemet nekam brit vene'esaftem el areikhem veshilachti dever betokhekhem venitatem beyad oyev

כז וְאִם בְּזֹאת לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וַהֲלַכְתֶּם עִמִּי בְּקֶרִי׃

26 Beshivri lakhem mateh lechem ve'afu eser nashim lachmekhem betanur echad veheshivu lachmekhem bamishkal va'akhaltem velo tisba'u

כח וְהָלַכְתִּי עִמָּכֶם בַּחֲמַת קֶרִי וְיִסַּרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אַף אָנִי שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם׃

27 Ve'im bezot lo tishme'u li vahalakhtem imi bekeri

כט וַאֲכַלְתֶּם בְּשַׂר בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְשַׂר בְּנֹתֵיכֶם תֹּאכֵלוּ׃

28 Vehalakhti imakhem bachamat keri veyisarti etkhem af ani sheva al chatoteikhem

ל וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֶת בָּמֹתֵיכֶם וְהִכְרַתִּי אֶת חַמָּנֵיכֶם וְנָתַתִּי אֶת פִּגְרֵיכֶם עַל פִּגְרֵי גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם וְגָעֲלָה נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶם׃

29 Va'akhaltem besar bneikhem uvsar bnoteikhem tokhelu

לא וְנָתַתִּי אֶת עָרֵיכֶם חָרְבָּה וַהֲשִׁמּוֹתִי אֶת מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶם וְלֹא אָרִיחַ בְּרֵיחַ נִיחֹחֲכֶם׃

30 Vehishmadeti et bamoteikhem vehikhrati et chamaneikhem venatati et pigreikhem al pigrei giluleikhem vega'alah nafshi etkhem

לב וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִי אֲנִי אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְשָׁמְמוּ עָלֶיהָ אֹיְבֵיכֶם הַיֹּשְׁבִים בָּהּ׃

31 Venatati et areikhem chorvah vahashimoti et mikdesheikhem velo ari'ach bere'ach nichochakhem

לג וְאֶתְכֶם אֱזָרֶה בַגּוֹיִם וַהֲרִיקֹתִי אַחֲרֵיכֶם חָרֶב וְהָיְתָה אַרְצְכֶם שְׁמָמָה וְעָרֵיכֶם יִהְיוּ חָרְבָּה׃

32 Vahashimoti ani et ha'aretz veshommu aleha oyveikhem hayoshvim bah

לד אָז תִּרְצֶה הָאָרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ כֹּל יְמֵי הֳשַׁמָּה וְאַתֶּם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיכֶם אָז תִּשְׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ וְהִרְצָת אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ׃

33 Ve'etkhem ezareh vagoyim vaharikoti achareikhem charev vehayetah artzekhem shemamah ve'areikhem yihyu chorvah

לה כָּל יְמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה תִּשְׁבֹּת אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁבְתָה בְּשַׁבְּתֹתֵיכֶם בְּשִׁבְתְּכֶם עָלֶיהָ׃

34 Az tirtzeh ha'aretz et shabtoteha kol yemei hashammah ve'atem be'eretz oyveikhem az tishbat ha'aretz vehirtzat et shabtoteha

לו וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים בָּכֶם וְהֵבֵאתִי מֹרֶךְ בִּלְבָבָם בְּאַרְצֹת אֹיְבֵיהֶם וְרָדַף אֹתָם קוֹל עָלֶה נִדָּף וְנָסוּ מְנֻסַת חֶרֶב וְנָפְלוּ וְאֵין רֹדֵף׃

35 Kol yemei hashammah tishbot et asher lo shavetah beshabtoteikhem beshivtekhem aleha

לז וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו כְּמִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב וְרֹדֵף אָיִן וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לָכֶם תְּקוּמָה לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם׃

36 Vehanish'arim bakhem veheveti morekh bilvavam be'artzot oyvehem veradaf otam kol aleh nidaf venasu menusat cherev venaflu ve'ein rodef

לח וַאֲבַדְתֶּם בַּגּוֹיִם וְאָכְלָה אֶתְכֶם אֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיכֶם׃

37 Vekhashlu ish be'achiv kemipnei cherev verodef ayin velo tihyeh lakhem tekumah lifnei oyveikhem

לט וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִים בָּכֶם יִמַּקּוּ בַּעֲוֹנָם בְּאַרְצֹת אֹיְבֵיכֶם וְאַף בַּעֲוֹנֹת אֲבֹתָם אִתָּם יִמָּקּוּ׃

38 Va'avadtem bagoyim ve'akhlah etkhem eretz oyveikhem

מ וְהִתְוַדּוּ אֶת עֲוֹנָם וְאֶת עֲוֹן אֲבֹתָם בְּמַעֲלָם אֲשֶׁר מָעֲלוּ בִי וְאַף אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ עִמִּי בְּקֶרִי׃

39 Vehanish'arim bakhem yimaku ba'avonam be'artzot oyveikhem ve'af ba'avonot avotam itam yimaku

מא אַף אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ עִמָּם בְּקֶרִי וְהֵבֵאתִי אֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם אוֹ אָז יִכָּנַע לְבָבָם הֶעָרֵל וְאָז יִרְצוּ אֶת עֲוֹנָם׃

40 Vehitvadu et avonam ve'et avon avotam bema'alam asher ma'alu vi ve'af asher halekhu imi bekeri

מב וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר׃

41 Af ani elekh imam bekeri veheveti otam be'eretz oyvehem o az yikanea levavam he'arel ve'az yirtzu et avonam

מג וְהָאָרֶץ תֵּעָזֵב מֵהֶם וְתִרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ בָּהְשַׁמָּה מֵהֶם וְהֵם יִרְצוּ אֶת עֲוֹנָם יַעַן וּבְיַעַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ וְאֶת חֻקֹּתַי גָּעֲלָה נַפְשָׁם׃

42 Vezakharti et briti Ya'akov ve'af et briti Yitzchak ve'af et briti Avraham ezkor veha'aretz ezkor

מד וְאַף גַּם זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם לֹא מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם כִּי אֲנִי יְדוָד אֱלֹהֵיהֶם׃

43 Veha'aretz te'azev mehem vetiretz et shabtoteha bahashammah mehem vehem yirtzu et avonam ya'an uvya'an bemishpatai ma'asu ve'et chukotai ga'alah nafsham

מה וְזָכַרְתִּי לָהֶם בְּרִית רִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם לִהְיֹת לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים אֲנִי יְדוָד׃

44 Ve'af gam zot bihyotam be'eretz oyvehem lo me'astim velo ge'altim lekhalotam lehafer briti itam ki ani Adonai Eloheihem

מו אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וְהַתּוֹרֹת אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְדוָד בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַר סִינַי בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה׃

45 Vezakharti lahem brit rishonim asher hotzeti otam me'eretz Mitzrayim le'einei hagoyim lihyot lahem l'Elohim ani Adonai

כז א וַיְדַבֵּר יְדוָד אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃

46 Eleh hachukim vehamishpatim vehatorot asher natan Adonai beno uvein bnei Yisrael beHar Sinai beyad Moshe

ב דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אִישׁ כִּי יַפְלִא נֶדֶר בְּעֶרְכְּךָ נְפָשֹׁת לַידוָד׃

27:1 Vayedaber Adonai el Moshe lemor

ג וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ הַזָּכָר מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְעַד בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ חֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל כֶּסֶף בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ׃

2 Daber el bnei Yisrael ve'amarta alehem ish ki yafli neder be'erkekha nefashot l'Adonai

ד וְאִם נְקֵבָה הִוא וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁקֶל׃

3 Vehayah erkekha hazakhar miben esrim shanah ve'ad ben shishim shanah vehayah erkekha chamishim shekel kesef beshekel hakodesh

ה וְאִם מִבֶּן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְעַד בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ הַזָּכָר עֶשְׂרִים שְׁקָלִים וְלַנְּקֵבָה עֲשֶׂרֶת שְׁקָלִים׃

4 Ve'im nekevah hi vehayah erkekha shloshim shakel

ו וְאִם מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ וְעַד בֶּן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ הַזָּכָר חֲמִשָּׁה שְׁקָלִים כָּסֶף וְלַנְּקֵבָה עֶרְכְּךָ שְׁלֹשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים כָּסֶף׃

5 Ve'im miben chamesh shanim ve'ad ben esrim shanah vehayah erkekha hazakhar esrim shekalim velanekevah aseret shekalim

ז וְאִם מִבֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה אִם זָכָר וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר שָׁקֶל וְלַנְּקֵבָה עֲשָׂרָה שְׁקָלִים׃

6 Ve'im miben chodesh ve'ad ben chamesh shanim vehayah erkekha hazakhar chamishah shekalim kasef velanekevah erkekha shloshet shekalim kasef

ח וְאִם מָךְ הוּא מֵעֶרְכֶּךָ וְהֶעֱמִידוֹ לִפְנֵי הַכֹּהֵן וְהֶעֱרִיךְ אֹתוֹ הַכֹּהֵן עַל פִּי אֲשֶׁר תַּשִּׂיג יַד הַנֹּדֵר יַעֲרִיכֶנּוּ הַכֹּהֵן׃

7 Ve'im miben shishim shanah vama'lah im zakhar vehayah erkekha chamishah asar shakel velanekevah asarah shekalim

ט וְאִם בְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ מִמֶּנָּה קָרְבָּן לַידוָד כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יִתֵּן מִמֶּנּוּ לַידוָד יִהְיֶה קֹּדֶשׁ׃

8 Ve'im makh hu me'erkekha vehe'emido lifnei hakohen vehe'erikh oto hakohen al pi asher tasig yad hanoder ya'arikhenu hakohen

י לֹא יַחֲלִיפֶנּוּ וְלֹא יָמִיר אֹתוֹ טוֹב בְּרָע אוֹ רַע בְּטוֹב וְאִם הָמֵר יָמִיר בְּהֵמָה בִּבְהֵמָה וְהָיָה הוּא וּתְמוּרָתוֹ יִהְיֶה קֹּדֶשׁ׃

9 Ve'im behemah asher yakrivu mimenah korban l'Adonai kol asher yiten mimenu l'Adonai yihyeh kodesh

יא וְאִם כָּל בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַקְרִיבוּ מִמֶּנָּה קָרְבָּן לַידוָד וְהֶעֱמִיד אֶת הַבְּהֵמָה לִפְנֵי הַכֹּהֵן׃

10 Lo yachlifenu velo yamir oto tov bera o ra betov ve'im hamer yamir behemah bivhemah vehayah hu utemurato yihyeh kodesh

יב וְהֶעֱרִיךְ הַכֹּהֵן אֹתָהּ בֵּין טוֹב וּבֵין רָע כְּעֶרְכְּךָ הַכֹּהֵן כֵּן יִהְיֶה׃

11 Ve'im kol behemah teme'ah asher lo yakrivu mimenah korban l'Adonai vehe'emid et habehemah lifnei hakohen

יג וְאִם גָּאֹל יִגְאָלֶנָּה וְיָסַף חֲמִישִׁתוֹ עַל עֶרְכֶּךָ׃

12 Vehe'erikh hakohen otah bein tov uvein ra ke'erkekha hakohen ken yihyeh

יד וְאִישׁ כִּי יַקְדִּשׁ אֶת בֵּיתוֹ קֹדֶשׁ לַידוָד וְהֶעֱרִיכוֹ הַכֹּהֵן בֵּין טוֹב וּבֵין רָע כַּאֲשֶׁר יַעֲרִיךְ אֹתוֹ הַכֹּהֵן כֵּן יָקוּם׃

13 Ve'im ga'ol yig'alenah veyasaf chamishito al erkekha

טו וְאִם הַמַּקְדִּישׁ יִגְאַל אֶת בֵּיתוֹ וְיָסַף חֲמִישִׁית כֶּסֶף עֶרְכְּךָ עָלָיו וְהָיָה לוֹ׃

14 Ve'ish ki yakdish et beito kodesh l'Adonai vehe'erikho hakohen bein tov uvein ra ka'asher ya'arikh oto hakohen ken yakum

טז וְאִם מִשְּׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ יַקְדִּישׁ אִישׁ לַידוָד וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ לְפִי זַרְעוֹ זֶרַע חֹמֶר שְׂעֹרִים בַּחֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל כָּסֶף׃

15 Ve'im hamakdish yig'al et beito veyasaf chamishit kesef erkekha alav vehayah lo

יז אִם מִשְּׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל יַקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֵהוּ כְּעֶרְכְּךָ יָקוּם׃

16 Ve'im misdeh achuzato yakdish ish l'Adonai vehayah erkekha lefi zar'o zera chomer se'orim bachamishim shekel kasef

יח וְאִם אַחַר הַיֹּבֵל יַקְדִּישׁ שָׂדֵהוּ וְחִשַּׁב לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַכֶּסֶף עַל פִּי הַשָּׁנִים הַנּוֹתָרֹת עַד שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל וְנִגְרַע מֵעֶרְכֶּךָ׃

17 Im mishnat hayovel yakdish sadehu ke'erkekha yakum

יט וְאִם גָּאֹל יִגְאַל אֶת הַשָּׂדֶה הַמַּקְדִּישׁ אֹתוֹ וְיָסַף חֲמִשִׁית כֶּסֶף עֶרְכְּךָ עָלָיו וְקָם לוֹ׃

18 Ve'im achar hayovel yakdish sadehu vechishav lo hakohen et hakesef al pi hashanim hanotarot ad shenat hayovel venigra me'erkekha

כ וְאִם לֹא יִגְאַל אֶת הַשָּׂדֶה וְאִם מָכַר אֶת הַשָּׂדֶה לְאִישׁ אַחֵר לֹא יִגָּאֵל עוֹד׃

19 Ve'im ga'ol yig'al et hasadeh hamakdish oto veyasaf chamishit kesef erkekha alav vekam lo

כא וְהָיָה הַשָּׂדֶה בְּצֵאתוֹ בַיֹּבֵל קֹדֶשׁ לַידוָד כִּשְׂדֵה הַחֵרֶם לַכֹּהֵן תִּהְיֶה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ׃

20 Ve'im lo yig'al et hasadeh ve'im makhar et hasadeh le'ish acher lo yiga'el od

כב וְאִם אֶת שְׂדֵה מִקְנָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִשְּׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ יַקְדִּישׁ לַידוָד׃

21 Vehayah hasadeh betze'to vayovel kodesh l'Adonai kisdeh hacherem lakohen tihyeh achuzato

כג וְחִשַּׁב לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן אֵת מִכְסַת הָעֶרְכְּךָ עַד שְׁנַת הַיֹּבֵל וְנָתַן אֶת הָעֶרְכְּךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא קֹדֶשׁ לַידוָד׃

22 Ve'im et sedeh miknato asher lo misdeh achuzato yakdish l'Adonai

כד בִּשְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל יָשׁוּב הַשָּׂדֶה לַאֲשֶׁר קָנָהוּ מֵאִתּוֹ לַאֲשֶׁר לוֹ אֲחֻזַּת הָאָרֶץ׃

23 Vechishav lo hakohen et mikhsat ha'erkekha ad shenat hayovel venatan et ha'erkekha bayom hahu kodesh l'Adonai

כה וְכָל עֶרְכְּךָ יִהְיֶה בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה יִהְיֶה הַשָּׁקֶל׃

24 Bishnat hayovel yashuv hasadeh la'asher kanahu me'ito la'asher lo achuzat ha'aretz

כו אַךְ בְּכוֹר אֲשֶׁר יְבֻכַּר לַידוָד בִּבְהֵמָה לֹא יַקְדִּישׁ אִישׁ אֹתוֹ אִם שׁוֹר אִם שֶׂה לַידוָד הוּא׃

25 Vekhol erkekha yihyeh beshekel hakodesh esrim gerah yihyeh hashakel

כז וְאִם בַּבְּהֵמָה הַטְּמֵאָה וּפָדָה בְעֶרְכֶּךָ וְיָסַף חֲמִשִׁתוֹ עָלָיו וְאִם לֹא יִגָּאֵל וְנִמְכַּר בְּעֶרְכֶּךָ׃

26 Akh bekhor asher yevukar l'Adonai bivhemah lo yakdish ish oto im shor im seh l'Adonai hu

כח אַךְ כָּל חֵרֶם אֲשֶׁר יַחֲרִם אִישׁ לַידוָד מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ מֵאָדָם וּבְהֵמָה וּמִשְּׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ לֹא יִמָּכֵר וְלֹא יִגָּאֵל כָּל חֵרֶם קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים הוּא לַידוָד׃

27 Ve'im babehemah hatme'ah ufadah ve'erkekha veyasaf chamishito alav ve'im lo yiga'el venimkar be'erkekha

כט כָּל חֵרֶם אֲשֶׁר יָחֳרַם מִן הָאָדָם לֹא יִפָּדֶה מוֹת יוּמָת׃

28 Akh kol cherem asher yacharim ish l'Adonai mikol asher lo me'adam uvehemah umisdeh achuzato lo yimakher velo yiga'el kol cherem kodesh kodashim hu l'Adonai

ל וְכָל מַעְשַׂר הָאָרֶץ מִזֶּרַע הָאָרֶץ מִפְּרִי הָעֵץ לַידוָד הוּא קֹדֶשׁ לַידוָד׃

29 Kol cherem asher yochoram min ha'adam lo yipadeh mot yumat

לא וְאִם גָּאֹל יִגְאַל אִישׁ מִמַּעַשְׂרוֹ חֲמִשִׁיתוֹ יֹסֵף עָלָיו׃

30 Vekhol ma'asar ha'aretz mizera ha'aretz mipri ha'etz l'Adonai hu kodesh l'Adonai

לב וְכָל מַעְשַׂר בָּקָר וָצֹאן כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבֹר תַּחַת הַשָּׁבֶט הָעֲשִׂירִי יִהְיֶה קֹּדֶשׁ לַידוָד׃

31 Ve'im ga'ol yig'al ish mima'asro chamishito yosef alav

לג לֹא יְבַקֵּר בֵּין טוֹב לָרַע וְלֹא יְמִירֶנּוּ וְאִם הָמֵר יְמִירֶנּוּ וְהָיָה הוּא וּתְמוּרָתוֹ יִהְיֶה קֹדֶשׁ לֹא יִגָּאֵל׃

32 Vekhol ma'asar bakar vatzon kol asher ya'avor tachat hashevet ha'asiri yihyeh kodesh l'Adonai

לד אֵלֶּה הַמִּצְוֹת אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְדוָד אֶת מֹשֶׁה אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַר סִינָי׃

33 Lo yevaker bein tov lara velo yemirenu ve'im hamer yemerenu vehayah hu utemurato yihyeh kodesh lo yiga'el

Parashat Bechukotai opens like a door swinging open to a perfected world: if the people of Israel walk in the path of the covenant, all of reality begins to sing. The rain falls in its season, the land gives its yield, food satisfies, security returns, and peace becomes not merely a political state but a deep inner feeling. The Torah describes this in the words: “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and do them” - Leviticus 26:3. Immediately after come blessings of abundance, security, and peace in the land.

But then the parasha turns. From great light to harsh warning. The Torah presents what happens when a person or a nation begins to see everything as “chance,” as though there is no meaning, no providence, no connection between action and consequence. The recurring expression in the parasha is walking with God in “keri” - meaning with an attitude of randomness and indifference. And then reality itself begins, as it were, to crumble: the land does not give its strength, fear intensifies, and the people go into exile.

And here is the staggering point: even at the peak of darkness, the parasha does not end in despair. Quite the opposite. Within the rebuke appears one of the most powerful verses of comfort and covenant: “Yet even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God” - Leviticus 26:44. That is, even when there is exile, there is a covenant. Even when there is distance, there is a thread that is never torn.

At the end of the parasha comes Chapter 27, dealing with valuations, vows, dedications, and tithes. Without entering halakhic details, from a conceptual perspective this is a surprising and brilliant conclusion: after blessings and rebuke, after an entire history of rises and falls, the Torah brings a person back to a simple question: What do you dedicate? What from your life belongs to something higher? The parasha ends with the verse: “These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses for the people of Israel at Mount Sinai” - Leviticus 27:34.

Several insights worth pausing on:

The first blessing is not money - it is the right rhythm. The parasha begins with rain in its season, yield in its season, eating to satisfaction, dwelling securely. The homiletical idea here: the greatest blessing is not simply having plenty, but having things arrive at the right time. Abundance without order can become a burden. Abundance with proper timing becomes a blessing.

Peace is not merely the absence of war. In Leviticus 26:6 it says: “I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down with nothing to make you afraid.” This is not just a security situation. It is a picture of a person lying down to sleep without anxiety. True peace, then, is measured also at night, when the phone is quiet and the heart is calm.

The problem of “keri” is not loud denial - it is indifference. A homiletical idea: sometimes the fall does not begin with a great rebellion, but with a small sentence in the heart: it is all random. Everything is chance. There is no meaning. Parashat Bechukotai warns that spiritual indifference can be more dangerous than open confrontation, because it extinguishes sensitivity.

The rebuke is not revenge - it is an attempt to awaken. The parasha is built in repeating stages: if you do not listen, another upheaval will come. The idea is not despair, but a call to awaken. As though the Torah is saying: reality speaks. Do not miss the message.

The most comforting verse is found precisely in the midst of darkness. Specifically after descriptions of exile and terror, the Torah says the covenant is not nullified. This is a point of immense depth: a Jew can be distant, a nation can pass through crises, but there is an inner point of connection that is never erased.

The conclusion with valuations is a conclusion about human worth. After all the drama of blessing and rebuke, the Torah speaks of “value.” A homiletical idea: a person is not measured only by what has happened to them, but by what they choose to dedicate. What do I lift from my life and make sacred? Time? Money? Talent? Attention? This is the conclusion of the Book of Leviticus - not only to be holy in the Temple, but to bring holiness into life’s decisions.

In one line: Parashat Bechukotai is not a parasha of fear. It is a parasha of responsibility. It says that the world is not random, that life responds to our choices, and that even when everything is broken, the inner covenant between God and Israel is not broken.

The astonishing insight of Parashat Bechukotai is that the entire parasha is built around a single word: walking. The opening of the blessings is: “If you walk in My statutes” - Leviticus 26:3. And after all the blessings comes the peak of closeness: “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people” - Leviticus 26:12. But in the rebuke the very same motion appears, only reversed: “And you walk with Me in keri” - Leviticus 26:23.

And this is the insight:

Life is always walking. There is no state of standing still.

Either a person walks within the statutes of the Torah, and then God, as it were, walks with them within their life - within the home, the livelihood, the fears, the routine, the night, the morning.

Or a person walks with reality in “keri” - by chance, with indifference, without hearing what life is saying. And then the guidance from above is also described toward the person as “keri,” meaning reality begins to feel cold, foreign, faceless.

And this is staggering: the deepest curse in the parasha is not merely want, fear, or exile. The deepest curse is to live in a world where everything happens - but nothing speaks to you.

And the greatest blessing is not only rain, yield, and peace. The greatest blessing is to feel that God walks with you within life.

In other words, Parashat Bechukotai does not ask only: are you keeping the commandments? It asks a far more internal question: how do you walk through the world - as one who encounters meaning, or as one who passes by life as though everything is chance?

And this is perhaps the secret of the entire parasha: the very same world can be a garden of blessing or a space of “keri.” The difference does not begin in heaven. It begins in the way a person walks.

Questions on Parashat Bechukotai

Why does the Torah open specifically with the language “If you walk in My statutes” - Leviticus 26:3 - rather than simply saying if you keep My commandments?
What is the secret in the word “walk” - is serving God a destination one reaches, or a path one never stops walking?
Why is the first blessing in the parasha rain in its season, rather than wealth, victory, or spiritual inspiration?
What is greater: having abundant plenty, or having plenty arrive at exactly the right time?
Why does the Torah describe a state where the threshing overtakes the vintage and the vintage overtakes the sowing - what is the depth of this image of abundance chasing abundance?
What is the meaning of the blessing “You shall eat your bread to satisfaction” - Leviticus 26:5 - if there is plenty of bread, isn’t it obvious one would be satisfied?
Could it be that the greatest blessing is not having more, but knowing how to be satisfied with what one already has?
Why does the Torah say specifically “I will grant peace in the land” - Leviticus 26:6 - after all the blessings of plenty? Do all blessings lose their value without peace?
What is the difference between external security and a state where a person lies down at night with nothing to make them afraid?
Why does the Torah promise “no sword shall pass through your land” - Leviticus 26:6 - is there an idea here that even others’ wars should not pass through our lives?
What is the secret behind the astonishing ratio of five pursuing a hundred and a hundred pursuing ten thousand - why does the impact grow far beyond simple arithmetic when forces multiply?
Why does the spiritual blessing of “I will place My dwelling among you” - Leviticus 26:11 - appear after the material blessings and not before them?
What is the profound meaning of “I will walk among you” - Leviticus 26:12 - how can one understand, as it were, a divine walking within a person’s life?
Why is it specifically in a parasha with harsh rebuke that one of the closest and most intimate promises between God and Israel appears?
What is the difference between a person who keeps commandments and a person for whom the commandments become the way they walk through the world?
What is the word “keri” that recurs in the parasha - does it teach that the deepest problem is seeing life as mere chance?
Could it be that the punishment in the parasha is not only for transgressions, but for indifference - for a person ceasing to hear the message in reality?
Why is the rebuke built in escalating stages, rather than all at once?
What does the Torah teach us about a person who ignores the first hint, then the second, then the third?
Why does the land itself appear in the parasha almost as a living character - giving yield, resting, being appeased, and remembering its sabbaths?
What is the deep connection between the Shemitah year and the rebuke - does the land demand that a person remember it is not their absolute possession?
Why specifically in exile, when all seems lost, does the Torah say the covenant with the patriarchs is remembered?
What is the power of the verse “Yet even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them” - Leviticus 26:44 - is this the verse that proves the connection is never severed?
Why, after all the blessings and rebukes, does a chapter about valuations, vows, and dedications follow - what is the connection between national history and the question of what a person dedicates from their life?
Does the conclusion of the Book of Leviticus in Parashat Bechukotai teach that holiness does not remain in the Temple alone, but is measured by one question: What in my life am I willing to make sacred?

Daily Aliyot

Aliyah 1 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - First Aliyah

The first aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai opens with the condition of blessing: if you walk in My statutes. The Torah promises rain in its season, full harvest, abundance and security. Three words that define the relationship between action and outcome.

Aliyah 2 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - Second Aliyah

The second aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai continues the blessings: peace in the land, victory over enemies, fertility, and the pinnacle of blessing - I will turn to you. Five pursue a hundred, and a hundred pursue ten thousand. The power is not in numbers.

Aliyah 3 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - Third Aliyah

The third aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai contains the pinnacle of blessing, the entire Tochachah (rebuke), and the consolation. From 'I will place My dwelling among you' to 'even then I did not reject them.' The longest and most difficult chapter in the Torah, sealed with a promise that the covenant will never be broken.

Aliyah 4 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - Fourth Aliyah

The fourth aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai opens the chapter of Arakhin (valuations): a person who vows their value to God. The Torah sets fixed amounts by age and gender, and accommodates those who cannot afford to pay. Animals and houses can also be consecrated, with the option of redemption by adding a fifth.

Aliyah 5 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - Fifth Aliyah

The fifth aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai deals with the consecration of an ancestral field. The value is determined by the amount of seed and the years remaining until the Jubilee. One who does not redeem the field or sells it to another loses it permanently, as it becomes holy like a devoted field.

Aliyah 6 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - Sixth Aliyah

The sixth aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai deals with a purchased field, the holy shekel, the firstborn animal, and the law of cherem. The distinction between an ancestral field and a purchased field, and between consecration that can be redeemed and consecration from which there is no return.

Aliyah 7 of 7 May 10, 2026

Parashat Bechukotai - Seventh Aliyah

The seventh and final aliyah of Parashat Bechukotai and the Book of Vayikra deals with cherem of a person, the tithe of the land, and the tithe of animals. The parasha concludes with the verse: These are the commandments that God commanded Moses to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai.

Parashat Bechukotai - Insights and Questions

Questions on Parashat Bechukotai

Daily Aliyot

Parashat Bechukotai - First Aliyah

Parashat Bechukotai - Second Aliyah

Parashat Bechukotai - Third Aliyah

Parashat Bechukotai - Fourth Aliyah

Parashat Bechukotai - Fifth Aliyah

Parashat Bechukotai - Sixth Aliyah

Parashat Bechukotai - Seventh Aliyah

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