PARSHA & PROSE: TORAH PORTIONS ACHAREI MOTE/KEDOSHIM THROUGH THE LENS OF ’THE CATCHER IN THE RYE’ (Audio)

Welcome to Parsha and Prose, where Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and I weave the Torah’s timeless wisdom with the insights of great literature. This week, we’re diving into the double Torah portion Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1–20:27), which grapples with the aftermath of Nadav and Avihu’s deaths, the Yom Kippur atonement rituals, and a call to holiness through ethical and ritual laws. Through the lens of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, we explore how Holden Caulfield’s restless quest for authenticity and his struggle with a “phony” world mirrors the Torah’s demand for genuine connection to God and others. Just as Acharei Mot seeks purification after loss and Kedoshim urges us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18), Holden’s yearning to protect innocence and find truth reflects a search for meaning in a fractured society. Join us as we uncover how these texts challenge us to confront our flaws, embrace sincerity, and build a life of purpose amidst chaos.