Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Hashem addresses Klal Yisrael with the beautiful and comforting words, "You are children of Hashem your Elokim." Because of this special, elevated status, the Torah immediately commands us not to follow the mourning practices of the goyim, specifically forbidding us from scratching our flesh or making a bald spot on our heads for the dead. We are a holy nation, chosen by Hashem to be His treasured people, and our conduct must reflect this kedushah.

To keep us holy and pure, the Torah transitions into the halachos of kosher food, detailing what we are permitted to bring into our bodies. The Torah lists the signs of kosher animals, fish, and birds, giving us a clear guide to distinguish between the pure and the impure, so that we do not defile our souls with forbidden foods.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

בָּנִיםChildrenאַתֶּםyou areלַיהוָהto Hashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godלֹאyou shall notתִתְגֹּדְדוּgash yourselvesוְלֹאand you shall notתָשִׂימוּplaceקָרְחָהa bald spotבֵּיןbetweenעֵינֵיכֶםyour eyesלָמֵת׃for the dead

רַשִׁ״י

לאYou shall notתתגדדו.cut yourselvesלֹאdo notתִתְּנוּplaceגְדִידָהa cutוְשֶׂרֶטand an incisionבִּבְשַׂרְכֶםin your fleshעַלforמֵתthe deadכְּדֶרֶךְlike the wayשֶׁהָאֱמוֹרִיִּיםthat the Amoritesעוֹשִׂין,doלְפִיbecauseשֶׁאַתֶּםthat youבָּנָיוare the childrenשֶׁלofמָקוֹםthe Omnipresentוְאַתֶּםand youרְאוּיִיןare fittingלִהְיוֹתto beנָאִיםcomelyוְלֹאand notגְּדוּדִיםcutוּמְקֹרָחִים:and torn of hair

רַשִׁ״י

ביןbetweenעיניכם.your eyesאֵצֶלadjoiningהַפַּדַּחַת,the foreheadוּבְמָקוֹםand in a placeאַחֵרanotherהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysויקראVayikraכ"אtwenty oneלֹאnotיִקְרְחֻהshall they make baldnessבְּרֹאשָׁםon their head–לַעֲשׂוֹתto makeכָּלall ofהָרֹאשׁthe headכְּבֵיןlike betweenהָעֵינַיִםthe eyesספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

כִּיForעַםa nationקָדוֹשׁholyאַתָּהyou areלַיהוָהto Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godוּבְךָand in youבָּחַרchoseיְהוָהHashemלִהְיוֹתto beלוֹfor Himלְעַםfor a nationסְגֻלָּהtreasuredמִכֹּלfrom allהָעַמִּיםthe peoplesאֲשֶׁרthatעַלuponפְּנֵיthe face ofהָאֲדָמָה׃the earth

רַשִׁ״י

כיForעםa peopleקדושholyאתה.are youקְדֻשַּׁתthe holiness ofעַצְמְךָyourselfמֵאֲבוֹתֶיךָ,is from your fathersוְעוֹדand furthermoreובךand in youבחרhas chosenה'Hashem:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

לֹאYou shall notתֹאכַלeatכָּלanyתּוֹעֵבָה׃abomination

רַשִׁ״י

כלAnyתועבה.abominationכָּלanythingשֶׁתִּעַבְתִּיthat I declared abominableלְךָ,to youכְּגוֹןsuch asצָרַםone slitאֹזֶןthe ear ofבְּכוֹרa firstbornכְּדֵיin orderלְשָׁחֳטוֹto slaughter itבַמְּדִינָהin the provinceהֲרֵיbeholdדָּבָרa thingשֶׁתִּעַבְתִּיthat I declared abominableלְךָ,to youכָּלanyמוּםblemishלֹאnotיִהְיֶהthere shall beבּוֹ,in itבָּאit comesוְלִמֵּדand teachesכָּאןhereשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִשְׁחַטshall he slaughterוְיֹאכַלand eatעַלon account ofאוֹתוֹthatהַמּוּם.blemishבִּשֵּׁלone cookedבָּשָׂרmeatבְּחָלָבin milkהֲרֵיbeholdדָּבָרa thingשֶׁתִּעַבְתִּיthat I declared abominableלְךָ,to youוְהִזְהִירand it warnedכָּאןhereעַלagainstאֲכִילָתוֹits eatingחוליןChullinקי"ד114:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

זֹאתThis isהַבְּהֵמָהthe animalאֲשֶׁרwhichתֹּאכֵלוּyou may eatשׁוֹרan oxשֵׂהthe sheep ofכְשָׂבִיםlambsוְשֵׂהand the kid ofעִזִּים׃goats

רַשִׁ״י

זאתThisהבהמה,is the beastאילhartוצביand gazelleויחמור.and fallow deerלָמַדְנוּwe have learnedשֶׁהַחַיָּהthat the wild animalבִכְלַלis in the categoryבְּהֵמָה,of beastוְלָמַדְנוּand we have learnedשֶׁהַבְּהֵמָהthat the beastוְחַיָּהand wild animalטְמֵאָהwhich is uncleanמְרֻבָּהis more numerousמִןthanהַטְּהוֹרָה,the cleanשֶׁבְּכָלfor in everyמָקוֹםplaceפּוֹרֵטit enumeratesאֶת—הַמֻּעָטthe minorityספרי;SifreiחוליןChullinי"ג13:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

אַיָּלthe deerוּצְבִיand the gazelleוְיַחְמוּרand the roebuckוְאַקּוֹand the wild goatוְדִישֹׁןand the ibexוּתְאוֹand the antelopeוָזָמֶר׃and the mountain sheep

רַשִׁ״י

ואקו.And the akoמְתֻרְגָּםis translatedיַעֲלָאya'alaאיובIyovל"ט39"יַעֲלֵיwild goats ofסָלַע",the rockהוּאit isאשטנב"וק:Steinbock

רַשִׁ״י

ותאו.And te'o"תּוֹרְבָּלָא",torbalaתּוֹרox ofהַיַּעַר,the forest"בָּלָא"bala—יַעַרforestבִּלְשׁוֹןin the language ofאֲרַמִּי:Aramaic

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְכָלAnd everyבְּהֵמָהanimalמַפְרֶסֶתthat partsפַּרְסָהa hoofוְשֹׁסַעַתand cleavesשֶׁסַעa cleftשְׁתֵּיof twoפְרָסוֹתhoofsמַעֲלַתthat brings upגֵּרָהcudבַּבְּהֵמָהamong the animalsאֹתָהּitתֹּאכֵלוּ׃you may eat

רַשִׁ״י

מפרסת.splitסְדוּקָה,cleftכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:as its Targum

רַשִׁ״י

פרסה.hoofפלאנט"א:plante

רַשִׁ״י

ושסעת.and hath clovenחֲלוּקָהdividedבִשְׁתֵּיinto twoצִפָּרְנַיִם,nailsשֶׁיֵּשׁfor there isסְדוּקָהsplitוְאֵינָהּand is notחֲלוּקָהdividedבַּצִּפָּרְנַיִם,in the nailsוְהִיאand itטְמֵאָה:is unclean

רַשִׁ״י

בבהמה.among the beastsמַשְׁמַעimpliesמַהthat whichשֶּׁנִּמְצָאis foundבַבְּהֵמָהwithin the beastאֱכֹל,eatמִכָּאןfrom hereאָמְרוּthey saidשֶׁהַשְּׁלִילthat the embryoנִתָּרbecomes permittedבִּשְׁחִיטַתthrough the slaughter ofאִמּוֹits motherחוליןChullinס"ט69:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

אַךְButאֶת—זֶהthisלֹאnotתֹאכְלוּyou shall eatמִמַּעֲלֵיfrom those bringing upהַגֵּרָהthe cudוּמִמַּפְרִיסֵיand from those partingהַפַּרְסָהthe hoofהַשְּׁסוּעָהthe splitאֶת—הַגָּמָלthe camelוְאֶתand —הָאַרְנֶבֶתthe hareוְאֶתand —הַשָּׁפָןthe hyraxכִּיforמַעֲלֵהbringers ofגֵרָהcudהֵמָּהthey areוּפַרְסָהand a hoofלֹאnotהִפְרִיסוּthey partedטְמֵאִיםtameiהֵםthey areלָכֶם׃to you

רַשִׁ״י

השסועה.The cleft-oneבְּרִיָּהa creatureהִיאit isשֶׁיֵּשׁthat hasלָהּto itשְׁנֵיtwoגַּבִּיןbacksוּשְׁתֵּיand twoשִׁדְרָאוֹתspinal columnsשםthereס'page;אָמְרוּsaidרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisלָמָּהwhyנִשְׁנוּ?were they repeatedבַּבְּהֵמוֹתamong the animalsמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַשְּׁסוּעָהthe cleft-oneוּבָעוֹפוֹתand among birdsמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָרָאָה,the ra'ahשֶׁלֹּאwhich notנֶאֱמְרוּwere they saidבְּת"כֹּin Toras Kohanimשםthereס"גpage 63:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וְאֶתand —הַחֲזִירthe pigכִּיbecauseמַפְרִיסit splitsפַּרְסָהhoofהוּאitוְלֹאbut notגֵרָהcudטָמֵאuncleanהוּאit isלָכֶםto youמִבְּשָׂרָםfrom their fleshלֹאnotתֹאכֵלוּshall you eatוּבְנִבְלָתָםand in their carcassלֹאnotתִגָּעוּ׃shall you touch

רַשִׁ״י

ובנבלתםand in their carcassלאyou shall notתגעו.touchרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisפֵּרְשׁוּexplained—בָּרֶגֶל,on the festivalשֶׁאָדָםthat a personחַיָּבis obligatedלְטַהֵרto purifyאֶת—עַצְמוֹhimselfבָּרֶגֶל,on the festivalיָכוֹלone might thinkיִהְיוּthey should beמֻזְהָרִיםwarnedבְּכָלduring all ofהַשָּׁנָה,the yearתַּ"לֹthe Torah teaches"אֱמֹרsayאֶלtoהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe Kohanimוְגוֹ'",etc.וּמַהand ifטֻּמְאַתthe defilement ofהַמֵּתthe deadחֲמוּרָה,which is stringentהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe Kohanimמֻזְהָרִיםare warnedוְאֵיןand notיִשְׂרָאֵלordinary Israelitesמֻזְהָרִים,are warnedטֻמְאַתthe defilement ofנְבֵלָהa carcassקַלָּה,which is lenientלֹאis it notכָּלallשֶׁכֵּן:the more so

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

אֶת—זֶהthisתֹּאכְלוּyou may eatמִכֹּלfrom allאֲשֶׁרthatבַּמָּיִםis in the waterכֹּלallאֲשֶׁרthatלוֹhasסְנַפִּירa finוְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂתand a scaleתֹּאכֵלוּ׃you may eat

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וְכֹלand allאֲשֶׁרthatאֵיןhas notלוֹto itסְנַפִּירfinוְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂתand scaleלֹאnotתֹאכֵלוּyou shall eatטָמֵאtameiהוּאit isלָכֶם׃to you

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

כָּלEveryצִפּוֹרbirdטְהֹרָהpureתֹּאכֵלוּ׃you may eat

רַשִׁ״י

כלEveryצפורbirdטהרהcleanתאכלו.you may eatלְהַתִּירto permitמְשֻׁלַּחַתthe sent-away birdשֶׁבַּמְּצֹרָעwhich is by the leperספרי;SifreiקידושיןKiddushinנ"ז57:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְזֶהAnd thisאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotתֹאכְלוּyou shall eatמֵהֶםfrom themהַנֶּשֶׁרthe eagleוְהַפֶּרֶסand the vultureוְהָעָזְנִיָּה׃and the black vulture

רַשִׁ״י

וזהAnd thisאשרwhichלאnotתאכלוyou shall eatמהם.from themלֶאֱסֹרto forbidאֶת—הַשְּׁחוּטָהthe slaughteredשםthere:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וְהָרָאָהand the kiteוְאֶתand —הָאַיָּהthe falconוְהַדַּיָּהand the buzzardלְמִינָהּ׃according to its kind

רַשִׁ״י

הראהThe ra'ahוהאיה.and the ayahהִיאit isרָאָהra'ahהִיאit isאַיָּהayahהִיאit isדַיָּה,dayahוְלָמָּהand whyנִקְרָאis calledשְׁמָהּits nameרָאָה?ra'ahשֶׁרוֹאָהbecause it seesבְּיוֹתֵר,keenlyוְלָמָּהand whyהִזְהִירdid He warnבְּכָלwith allשְׁמוֹתֶיהָ?its namesשֶׁלֹּאso as notלִתֵּןto giveפִּתְחוֹןan openingפֶּהof mouthלְבַעַלto an opponentדִּיןof lawלַחֲלֹקto argue–שֶׁלֹּאso that notיְהֵאwill beהָאוֹסְרָהּthe one forbidding itקוֹרֵאcallingאוֹתָהּitרָאָה,ra'ahוְהַבָּאand the one comingלְהַתִּירto permitאוֹמֵרsaysזוֹthisדַּיָּהdayahשְׁמָהּis its nameאוֹorאַיָּהayahשְׁמָהּ,is its nameוְזוֹand thisלֹאnotאָסַרdid forbidהַכָּתוּב.the Scriptureוּבָעוֹפוֹתand among birdsפֵּרֵטit detailedלְךָto youהַטְּמֵאִיםthe unclean onesלְלַמֵּדto teachשֶׁהָעוֹפוֹתthat the birdsהַטְּהוֹרִיםthe clean onesמְרֻבִּיםare more numerousעַלthanהַטְּמֵאִים,the unclean onesלְפִיכָךְthereforeפֵּרֵטit detailedאֶת—הַמֻּעָטthe minorityחוליןChullinס"ג63b:

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וְאֵתand —כָּלeveryעֹרֵבravenלְמִינוֹ׃according to its kind

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וְאֵתand —בַּתthe daughter ofהַיַּעֲנָהthe ostrichוְאֶתand —הַתַּחְמָסthe nighthawkוְאֶתand —הַשָּׁחַףthe gullוְאֶתand —הַנֵּץthe hawkלְמִינֵהוּ׃according to its kind

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

אֶת—הַכּוֹסthe little owlוְאֶתand —הַיַּנְשׁוּףthe great owlוְהַתִּנְשָׁמֶת׃and the white owl

רַשִׁ״י

התנשמת.The tinshemesקלב"אchauve-sourisשורי"ץ:bat

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וְהַקָּאָתand the pelicanוְאֶתand —הָרָחָמָהthe bustardוְאֶתand —הַשָּׁלָךְ׃the cormorant

רַשִׁ״י

שלך.Shalachהַשּׁוֹלֶהthat draws outדָּגִיםfishמִןfromהַיָּםthe seaשםthere:

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

וְהַחֲסִידָהand the storkוְהָאֲנָפָהand the heronלְמִינָהּaccording to its kindוְהַדּוּכִיפַתand the hoopoeוְהָעֲטַלֵּף׃and the bat

רַשִׁ״י

דוכיפת.The duchifasהוּאit isתַּרְנְגוֹלthe cock ofהַבָּר,the wildernessוּבְלַעַזand in foreign tongueהרו"פא,herupeוְכַרְבָּלְתּוֹand its comb isכְפוּלָהdoubledגיט'Gittinס"חpage 68:

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וְכֹלAnd everyשֶׁרֶץswarming thing ofהָעוֹףthe birdטָמֵאimpureהוּאit isלָכֶםto youלֹאnotיֵאָכֵלוּ׃they shall be eaten

רַשִׁ״י

שרץSwarming things ofהעוף.the fowlהֵםthey areהַנְּמוּכִים,the low onesהָרוֹחֲשִׁיםthat crawlעַלuponהָאָרֶץ.the earthזְבוּבִיןfliesוּצְרָעִיםand hornetsוַחֲגָבִיםand grasshoppersטְמֵאִיםuncleanקְרוּיִיםare calledשֶׁרֶץ:swarming things

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

כָּלEveryעוֹףwinged creatureטָהוֹרpureתֹּאכֵלוּ׃you may eat

רַשִׁ״י

כלEveryעוףfowlטהורcleanתאכלו.you shall eatוְלֹאand notאֶת—הַטָּמֵא,the uncleanבָּאit comesלִתֵּןto placeעֲשֵׂהa positive commandmentעַלuponלֹאa negativeתַעֲשֶׂה;commandmentוְכֵןand likewiseבַּבְּהֵמָהregarding the animal"אֹתָהּitתֹּאכֵלוּ",you shall eatוְלֹאand notבְהֵמָהan animalטְמֵאָה,uncleanוְלָאוand a prohibitionהַבָּאthat comesמִכְּלַלfrom the implicationעֲשֵׂהof a positiveעֲשֵׂה,is a positiveלַעֲבֹרto transgressעֲלֵיהֶםconcerning themבַּעֲשֵׂהwith a positiveוְלֹאand a negativeתַעֲשֶׂה:commandment

פָּסוּק כא

Pasuk 21

לֹאYou shall notתֹאכְלוּeatכָלanyנְבֵלָהcarcassלַגֵּרto the strangerאֲשֶׁרwho isבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָin your gatesתִּתְּנֶנָּהyou shall give itוַאֲכָלָהּand he may eat itאוֹorמָכֹרsell itלְנָכְרִיto a foreignerכִּיforעַםa nationקָדוֹשׁholyאַתָּהyou areלַיהוָהto Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלֹאyou shall notתְבַשֵּׁלcookגְּדִיa kidבַּחֲלֵבin the milk ofאִמּוֹ׃its mother

רַשִׁ״י

לגרto the strangerאשרwhoבשעריך.is in your gatesגֵּרa strangerתּוֹשָׁבresidentשֶׁקִּבֵּלwho acceptedעָלָיוupon himselfשֶׁלֹּאnotלַעֲבֹדto worshipעֲ"זָidolatryוְאוֹכֵלbut eatsנְבֵלוֹתcarrionספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

כיForעםa peopleקדושholyאתהyou areלה'.to Hashemקַדֵּשׁsanctifyאֶת—עַצְמְךָyourselfבַּמֻּתָּרin that permittedלְךָto you–דְּבָרִיםthingsהַמֻּתָּרִיםthat are permittedוַאֲחֵרִיםand othersנוֹהֲגִיםconductבָּהֶםin themאִסּוּר,prohibitionאַלdo notתַּתִּירֵםpermit themבִּפְנֵיהֶםin their presenceשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

לאYou shall notתבשלcookגדי.a kidשָׁלוֹשׁthreeפְּעָמִים,timesפְּרָטto excludeלְחַיָּהa wild beastוּלְעוֹפוֹתand birdsוְלִבְהֵמָהand an animalטְמֵאָהuncleanחוליןChullinקי"ג113:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with the prohibitions against gashing oneself or shaving the front of the head in mourning, emphasizing Klal Yisrael's status as a holy and chosen nation. It then details the kosher laws, listing the permitted land animals—such as the ox, sheep, and goat—and explaining the dual requirements of split hoofs and chewing the cud, while explicitly forbidding non-kosher animals like the camel, hare, daman, and pig. The Torah goes on to define kosher sea creatures as those having both fins and scales, lists the non-kosher birds that are forbidden to us, prohibits eating winged swarming things, and concludes with the prohibitions against eating nevelah (an animal that died without proper shechitah) and cooking a kid in its mother's milk.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah begins this parsha's discussion of the kosher laws with a beautiful, foundational yesod: "Banim atem l'Hashem Elokeichem", you are children to Hashem. Immediately after, the Torah lists the detailed laws of what we can and cannot eat, concluding again with the words "ki am kadosh atah", for you are a holy nation. Lichoira, what is the connection between being Hashem's beloved children and the strict, technical details of what we are allowed to put in our mouths?

The Torah is teaching us a massive chiddush about our identity. Keeping kosher is not just a set of dietary rules or a health regimen; it is the direct result of our royal status. A prince does not eat off the floor, and the children of the King of kings do not consume things that dull the spiritual sensitivity of their neshamos. Every time you make a decision about what to eat, you are actively declaring, "I am a child of Hashem, and my body and soul are holy."

In our daily lives, we are constantly faced with choices, not just about kosher food, but about how we carry ourselves, what we look at, and how we speak. The yetzer hara wants us to forget who we are and to view these halachos as restrictive burdens. But when we realize that every restriction is actually a badge of honor, the entire avodah changes. We don't hold back because we are limited; we hold back because we are elevated.

Today, before you make a brachah or eat something, pause for three seconds and think about this pasuk: "Banim atem l'Hashem Elokeichem." Remind yourself that you are a child of the King, and let that royal dignity guide how you eat, speak, and act throughout the day.