Guiding Questions: Leviticus 20

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

  1. What alternate meanings are (might there be) for “his seed” (Leviticus 20:1)—semen or an actual child?
  2. Does the Molekh legislation obtain for Israelites only (Leviticus 20:2)?
  3. How is Molekh regarded vis-à-vis Divinity (Leviticus 20:3)?
  4. What is the punishment for Molekh worship if the “Am Haaretz” disregard the act?
  5. Who/what are the “Am Haaretz” (disregard contemporary meaning of the term)?
  6. What is the attitude towards “false soothsayers” (Leviticus 20:6)?
  7. In sum (Leviticus 20:7), how does the preceding legislation relate to the imperative “make yourself unique?”
  8. Why would the legislation which follows (Leviticus 20:9-21) be related to idol worship—or is the sequence happenstancial?
  9. How does Leviticus 20:9 relate to the “Ten Statements?”
  10. Are any of the sexual prohibitions which follow (Leviticus 20:10 et seq) related to sexual conduct between a man and his wife?
  11. What reason might there be for the especially severe punishment set forth in Leviticus 20:14?
  12. Why might the punishment for the acts described in Leviticus 20:17-19 be of less severity?
  13. Is any punishment by the community set forth in Leviticus 20:20—and what is the result of these prohibited acts?
  14. What is the purport of Leviticus 20:22 as to the earth “vomiting forth?”
  15. Leviticus 20:23 describes prohibited sexual conduct as characteristic of ____________?
  16. How does Leviticus 20:24-26 document that to be “kadosh” is to be “other” and “different?”
  17. How do Leviticus 20:27 and Leviticus 20:6 in this chapter relate to one another—and why the repetition?

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    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

  • favicon of exploring judaism logo

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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