Parasha Kedoshim
"You shall be holy" — the Torah's most concentrated collection of ethical and moral laws.
Overview
Parasha Kedoshim is often called the heart of the Torah. It opens with the command "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" and proceeds to list a dense collection of ethical, ritual, and social laws that touch every aspect of human life. Rabbi Akiva called the verse "Love your neighbor as yourself" the great principle of the Torah.
The Story
The laws include: honor your father and mother; keep the Sabbath; do not turn to idols; leave the corners of your field for the poor; do not steal, lie, or swear falsely; do not oppress your neighbor; do not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind; judge justly; do not hate your brother in your heart; do not take revenge; love your neighbor as yourself. The parasha also prohibits mixing species, certain agricultural practices, and various forms of divination and sorcery.
Significance for Noahides
Kedoshim contains the most universal ethical teachings in the entire Torah. The prohibition of theft, false weights, oppression of workers, and perversion of justice are all directly relevant to the Noahide laws of justice and theft. "Love your neighbor as yourself" is the positive expression of the entire moral code — the foundation of a righteous society for all humanity.