Acharei Mot-Kedoshim April 25, 2026 / 8 Iyar 5786
In the first section of Acharei Mot of this week’s double parsha, we are commanded regarding the consumption of blood. Not only may we not consume blood, we must cover the blood of wild animals and birds. This commandment, known as “kisuy hadam” literally “covering the blood” does not apply to domesticated livestock. The parsha itself explains why (Leviticus 17:14) because “the life of any creature, its blood represents its life.” This is done by preparing the earth in advance with loose dirt below and covering above. If there is no dust with which to cover the blood, one should not perform the slaughter.
Why does this only apply to wild animals (for example, deer which are kosher) and birds? One reason is that domesticated animals were eligible to be brought as offerings at the Tabernacle and later at the Holy Temple. Applying the blood of the offerings on the altar was an essential part of the service and therefore the blood could not be covered. Furthermore, as stated in the Talmud (Chullin 85a), if somehow the slaughterer botched the job, the animal is not rendered kosher but the blood need not be covered.
Therefore, the blood is covered only when the animal could be eaten but not used for sacrificial service. This is in recognition of the fact that we are taking a life for ourselves, not for a higher spiritual reason. In essence, as Jews we recognize the value of all life as well as the spiritual nature of all beings. So why have Jews been particularly targeted throughout history using the blood libel, the accusation that Jews use the blood of non-Jews for ritual purposes? In case you think this is something abstract, in 1928 in Massena, New York a local girl disappeared and the local Rabbi was accused of abducting and killing her for ritual purposes. She was found wandering in the woods not long after, but the damage had been done and accusations continued for some time.
In my opinion, it is because we value life so much that they choose to target us in this way. As we celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut this week, we have to draw the line in the sand (or loose earth as it were) and understand the difference between killing for our survival and killing for genocidal conquest or control. Let us stand together as Americans and Jews and defend all our armed forces against the insidious moral equivalency that compares Allied bombing to the gas chambers or mistakenly targeted civilians to the October 7 massacres.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
Why does this only apply to wild animals (for example, deer which are kosher) and birds? One reason is that domesticated animals were eligible to be brought as offerings at the Tabernacle and later at the Holy Temple. Applying the blood of the offerings on the altar was an essential part of the service and therefore the blood could not be covered. Furthermore, as stated in the Talmud (Chullin 85a), if somehow the slaughterer botched the job, the animal is not rendered kosher but the blood need not be covered.
Therefore, the blood is covered only when the animal could be eaten but not used for sacrificial service. This is in recognition of the fact that we are taking a life for ourselves, not for a higher spiritual reason. In essence, as Jews we recognize the value of all life as well as the spiritual nature of all beings. So why have Jews been particularly targeted throughout history using the blood libel, the accusation that Jews use the blood of non-Jews for ritual purposes? In case you think this is something abstract, in 1928 in Massena, New York a local girl disappeared and the local Rabbi was accused of abducting and killing her for ritual purposes. She was found wandering in the woods not long after, but the damage had been done and accusations continued for some time.
In my opinion, it is because we value life so much that they choose to target us in this way. As we celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut this week, we have to draw the line in the sand (or loose earth as it were) and understand the difference between killing for our survival and killing for genocidal conquest or control. Let us stand together as Americans and Jews and defend all our armed forces against the insidious moral equivalency that compares Allied bombing to the gas chambers or mistakenly targeted civilians to the October 7 massacres.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
