Levitikus 1-15

One of the most well-known verses in the Bible comes from the book of Leviticus: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18). Less familiar is the fact that just a few verses later, the same love is demanded towards the stranger (Lev 19:33-34). For many people, the third book of the Torah of Moses, with its discussions on sacrificial worship, purity laws, and ethical demands, is a terra incognita. Yet, Leviticus has profoundly shaped both the culture and values of the Western world through the ideal concepts of God, the relationships between God and humanity, as well as between humans. In Judaism, it is read in the synagogue for ten consecutive Sabbaths each year, and numerous Halacha regulations refer to it. In Christianity, it is rarely read or preached about.