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Why does the Torah (תורה) single out forbidden relationships as the epitome of decadence rather than murder or theft? The shiur argues that secular society mistakes pleasure-seeking for a basic drive when humans actually need to feel truly alive and valuable. When people lack genuine existence through meaningful choices, they pursue increasingly extreme pleasures to mask the underlying emptiness.
Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the juxtaposition in Parshas Acharei Mos between the prohibition against following Egyptian and Canaanite practices and the verse 'v'chay bahem' (and you shall live by them). He questions why the Torah (תורה) focuses on forbidden relationships as the epitome of decadence, rather than crimes like murder or theft, and why this verse appears in this context when it's used to permit desecrating Shabbos (שבת) to save a life. The rabbi addresses Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary that 'v'chay bahem' refers to eternal life in the world to come, since everyone dies regardless of their mitzvah (מצוה) observance. This creates an apparent contradiction: if the verse refers to the afterlife, why do we use it to justify violating Shabbos for temporal life?
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Parshas Acharei Mos 18:1-5
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