Parashat Behar-Bechukotai (Revised May 8, 2026) This week's double parashah, Behar and Bechuotai, bring to a close the book of Vayikra, a book the all-consuming focus of which is, undoubtably, KEDUSHAH, holiness. The last chapter is concerned largely with the kind of vows people make in dedicating something to the service of Hashem in the Mikdash. There are many laws regulating this seemingly noble motivation and its accompanying action, but my attention was taken this time around by the following law: "If (the devoted thing) is an animal of the kind from which an offering is brought to Hashem, any one which is given to Hashem shall be kodesh . One shall not exchange it ( lo yachalifenu ) nor shall one substitute for it ( yamir oto ), good for bad or bad for good; now if one DOES substitute for it, it will be that it and its substitute will be kodesh ." Vayikra 27:10-11 This mitzvah turns out to be very curious, because one is lashed for its intentional violation...
So Ya’akov sets out for Padan Aram, ostensibly to find a wife, but everyone knows (except for Yitzchak) that’s he’s fleeing for his live. The quick, post-blessing departure was arranged by Rivka, who told “her son” (as he is repeatedly termed in last week’s parashah) that Esav was consoling himself for the lost blessing by plotting to kill his brother as soon as Yitzchak, their father, is no longer around. “Get up, go to Padan Aram”, says Rivka. She insists it will be but a brief sojourn by Lavan, her brother. Just until Esav’s anger passes. And so, after receiving yet another blessing from Yitzchak, as well as a charge to find a wife there (Rivkah has dissembled to her husband regarding why she wishes Ya’acov to “visit the family”) is sent out by his father and goes to Padan Aram.
Esav also believes that his marriage to Canaanite women might indeed have upset Father and Mother, perhaps to the point of denying him blessings? Therefore he takes a “Jewish” wife – we...