Sifra

Tsav 8:1

[But every purification offering whose blood is brought to the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, it shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire (Leviticus 6:23).]

Purification offering: I know [that the stated rule applies] only to purification offerings. How do I know from scripture [that the rule applies to] all holy things? Scripture says: every [kol] purification offering (Leviticus 6:23), the words of R. Akiva. R. Yosi the Galilean said to him, “Akiva! Even if you were to go on talking the whole day, it is still talking only about the purification offering!”

Nega‘im 13:2

[And the garment, when there is a plague of leprosy in it, whether it be a garment of wool or a garment of linen (Leviticus 13:47).]

[ . . . ] Scripture says And the garment: I know [that susceptibility to leprosy impurity applies] only to a garment in which are woven three-by-three fingerbreadths of material. How do I know from scripture [that susceptibility to leprosy impurity applies to] a garment in which is not woven three-by-three fingerbreadths of material?

Scripture says And [ve-] the garment (Leviticus 13:47).

In the case of the garment, I know [that susceptibility to leprosy impurity applies] only about a garment in which there is room for it to spread. How do I know from scripture [that susceptibility to leprosy impurity applies to] a garment in which there is no room for it to spread? Scripture says: And the garment—the words of R. Eliezer.

R. Ishmael said to him, “Look, you say to scripture: ‘Be silent while I expound your meaning!’” R. Eliezer said to him, “Ishmael, you are a mountain-palm [which does not produce fruit].”

Aḥarei Mot 13:3–4, 9–11, 13

3. The Lord spoke to Moses saying, “Speak to the Israelite people and say to them, ‘I am the Lord your god.’” (Leviticus 18:1–2, NJPS) [ . . . ]

They accepted my decrees: You shall not copy the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt or of the land of Canaan to which I am taking you; nor shall you follow their statutes (Leviticus 18:3, NJPS).

R. Ishmael says: The sexual prohibitions are weighty, since scripture introduces and concludes these laws with the Tetragrammaton. [ . . . ]

4. Rabbi says: It was obvious to the One who spoke and the world came into being that they [Israel] would protest against the sexual prohibitions. Therefore, they were imposed as a decree, with I am the Lord your God, meaning, “Know who is making this decree over you.” And so, we find that they protested against the sexual prohibitions, as it is said: Moses heard the people weeping, every clan apart, each person at the entrance of his tent (Numbers 11:10, NJPS). [ . . . ]

9. Nor shall you follow their statutes (Leviticus 18:3). And what did scripture leave unstated [since it already details many practices that should not be followed]? [ . . . ]

It is that you should not follow their customs in matters that are established by law for them, like going to the theater, circuses, and sporting events.

R. Meir says: These are forbidden as being among “the ways of the Amorites” [prohibited by Leviticus 18:3], which the sages have detailed.

R. Judah ben Betera says: It means that you should not dress extravagantly and not grow your (hair) fringe or cut the hair kome-style [i.e., in a style used by gentiles].

And lest you say, “For them they are laws but for us they are not laws,” scripture says: You shall observe my judgments [mishpatim] and keep my statutes [ḥukim] [to follow them. I am the Lord your God] (Leviticus 18:4).

But still, the evil impulse can hope to quibble and say, “Theirs are nicer than ours.” So scripture says: You shall keep and do it, for it is your wisdom and your understanding (Deuteronomy 4:6).

10. You shall observe my judgments [mishpatim] [and keep my statutes (ḥukim) to follow them. I am the Lord your God] (Leviticus 18:4): These [i.e., the judgments, mishpatim] are matters written in the Torah that, had they not been written, it would be logical to write, such as theft, sexual prohibitions, idolatry, blasphemy, and bloodshed. If they had not been written [in the Torah], it would [nevertheless] be logical to write them. And those [i.e., the statutes, ḥukim] are the ones that the evil impulse and the [idolatrous] nations of the world object to, such as the prohibition against eating pork and against wearing mixed seeds, and the sandal-removal ritual [to annul a levirate bond], the purification rite for scale disease, the scapegoat ritual—to which the evil impulse and the idolatrous nations of the world object. Scripture says: I am the Lord, meaning, you are not permitted to object to my statutes [ḥukotay] (Leviticus 18:5).

11. To follow them (Leviticus 18:4): treat them as the principal thing and not as of secondary import.

To follow them: you should deal only with them. You should never adulterate them with other matters in the world. You should not say, “I have learned the wisdom of Israel; [now] I will learn the wisdom of the nations of the world,” As scripture says: to follow them: you are not free to quit yourself of them. [ . . . ]

13. [You shall keep my laws and my judgments] by which, in doing them, [a man shall live] (Leviticus 18:5).

R. Jeremiah used to say: You say, “How do we know [i.e., what is the scriptural proof] that even a non-Jew who does the Torah [i.e., keeps the commandments] is considered like a high priest?” Scripture says: by which, in doing them, [a man shall live . . .].