The reason that Acherei Mot comes before Kedoshim is to teach us that our rituals are what make our good actions possible.

During the month of Iyar we go from the sadness of loss to the happiness of success. We mourn the soldiers who fell in defending our people and land to a celebration of our independence in that land.

Creating life is holy if done properly. There is a problem in Israel in that the sperm of a fallen soldier can be used in invitro fertilization so that the memory of the soldier can live on. This is a major issue with Jewish legal ramifications.

We don't realize the damage we do when we gossip about others. We should strive to talk about issues and philosophical ideas, not gossip.

One of the mistakes that we make is that we think we can reason with anti-Semites. Their hatred is so great that it defies reason. As was told to me many years ago, you simply cannot reason with a rabid dog. You have to realize that its either you or the rabid dog.

The Parsha deals with a spiritual disease caused by lashon hara, gossiping. Lashon hara is true but negative. It is bad for everyone involved.

There is a spiritual and physical connection between the laws of kosher animals. It reminds us that as humans we are both spiritual and physical beings.

Passover is the holiday of Jewish freedom, yet we have very strict limitations on what we can eat. This is to teach us that freedom has limitations.

We are encouraged to ask questions at the Seder. The reason is that this is a sign of being a free people.

When we look at the 4 sons as 4 generations, we get a deeper understanding what the Hagadah is point out. How the wise son leads to the wicked, who leads to the simple who then leads to the one who doesn't know how to ask.