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PARASHAT ACHEREI MOT
This parsha, which includes all forbidden sexual relationships, is also read on Yom Kippur. "Neither shall you take a wife to her sister, to make her a rival, and uncover her nakedness, beside the other during her life time." (Vayikra 18:18) Rashi explains that the phrase: "during her life time" teaches that if he divorces her, he is not allowed to marry her sister as long as she is still alive. Hirsch notes that marrying the wife's sister is the only sexual prohibition, which is nullified after death, and moreover, the only prohibition about which Scripture states the reason, "to make her a rival." (litzror) According to Ramban, no reason was necessary to give for the prohibition of marrying a mother and daughter, since the daughter comes from the body of the mother, and the Torah therefore forbids marrying both even after one of them dies. It seems to me that there are certain mixtures whose prohibition is absolute and beyond human logic, like mixing meat and milk, shatnetz (wool and linen) and kelaim. (The prohibition of hybrids.) The sexual prohibitions mentioned in our parsha belong to this category, with the exception of marrying two sisters. Since the other sexual prohibitions intrinsically contradict the order of creation, they can never be permitted. However, the Torah forbade marrying two sisters out of concern for their feelings. Therefore, this reason only applies as long as both sisters are alive. SISTERLY LOVE Rashi notes that the word "Litzror" in our verse is connected
with the word tzara, a rival. Although a man in biblical times was
permitted to take two wives, Ramban explains that it is not considerate
to marry two sisters and thereby cause them to be rivals, since
sisters are supposed to love one another. Sefer HaChinuch writes,
"My heart tells me in this matter that Scripture forbade marrying
two sisters, since the Master of peace desires peace among all His
creatures, and especially between those whose nature is to be at
peace. There should not be strife and competition between them all
day long." Similarly HaRivash writes that two sisters who are
beloved to one another, should not be set up against each other,
to cause jealousy and strife between them. Even after a man divorces
one sister, he is forbidden to marry the other, out of consideration
that the other sister may become jealous when she comes by to visit.
However, after death hatred and jealousy have passed, and now, on
the contrary, it is actually a mitzvah to marry the sister of his
deceased wife, in order that she may take upon herself to raise
her sister's children.
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