Parashat Acharei Mot / Kedoshim
All of mankind belongs to God and He has chosen Israel as His holy people. Holy does not mean perfect or pious, but rather set apart, distinct. In this double portion we find commandments given that define what it looks like to be a community as God’s holy people.
Along with these commandments we see many instructions for the stranger who dwells among Israel. These commandments found in Leviticus 17 and 18 correspond to the four commands given to Gentile believers by the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.
These four instructions remove barriers to fellowship and set a standard that allows Jew and Gentile to walk together in community as God’s holy people!
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
isaiah 56:6-7