Vayikra — Leviticus
The book of holiness — sacrifices, purity, the priesthood, and the call to be holy.
Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא), meaning "And He called," is the third book of the Torah. It is primarily a book of law — detailing the sacrificial service, the laws of ritual purity, the role of the Kohanim (priests), and the call to personal and communal holiness. At its heart is the command: "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2).
For Noahides, Vayikra contains the universal ethical laws embedded within the priestly code — including the famous command to love one's neighbor, the prohibition of injustice, and the laws against forbidden sexual relations and bloodshed that form part of the Seven Laws.
Weekly Portions of Vayikra
- Vayikra — The laws of burnt offerings, meal offerings, and peace offerings
- Tzav — Further laws of the sacrifices, the inauguration of the priests
- Shemini — The eighth day of inauguration, the death of Nadav and Avihu, kosher laws
- Tazria — Laws of ritual impurity after childbirth and skin afflictions
- Metzora — Purification from skin afflictions, laws of the afflicted house
- Acharei Mot — The Yom Kippur service, forbidden sexual relations
- Kedoshim — "You shall be holy" — ethical and ritual laws, love your neighbor
- Emor — Laws for the priests, the Jewish holidays, the Omer count
- Behar — The Sabbatical year, the Jubilee, laws of property and servitude
- Bechukotai — Blessings for obedience, consequences for disobedience, the covenant