Oral Law Blog

• Please open the Tanach to ויקרא י"ט (Leviticus 19). Please read the wide range of mitzvot here and choose one mitzvah (commandment) to which you can relate.
• Please explain why you chose this Mitzvah or pasuk (verse) and build a fence around it. How do you interpret this Mitzvah? How do you or can you fulfill this mitzvah in your daily life? How can it be a guideline for you as a Jew in the modern world?
• Using a digital camera/phone, please take a photograph that in some way expresses the verse you selected (or use an existing photo). The photo can be a place, a person, something you’ve created, an object in nature, etc… Be creative! The image may only have meaning for you!
• Write a concluding paragraph explaining how this photograph expresses the Jewish mitzvah/ value you selected.

This assignment must be constructed of 2 paragraphs and a picture. 

 The mitzvah that I choose is Leviticus 19:17 "Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt." I chose this commandment because I believe it has a lot to do with current issues. We were talking to Rabbi Rick Jacobs today about the Reform movement and it's struggles with the Orthodox movement. He discussed how Orthodox leaders don't treat other citizens and sects of Jews equally. These actions go directly against the commandment Leviticus 19:17. However, the commandment also adds that it is important to debate other views and have a friendly argument. This relates to my daily life because throughout my experiences with Israelis, I have often had debates about religious and political issues, but I always make sure I respect their ideas. I believe it can be a guideline to me because even though I disagree with a lot of people in Israel I have to learn to respect them.

I chose a photo of the western wall because there are many altercations between Jews that happen there. Whether it's when women of the wall hold protests and Orthodox men spit on them, or the separation of women and men at the wall. Based on Leviticus 19:17 this needs to stop. However, the Western Wall is also a place for Jews to unite and have friendly conversations. This is why this photo represents the commandment.