OU TORAH NAALEH.COM and YU TORAH Nation’s Nemesis Shira Smiles

Click here for video. Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein             The Torah is full of mitzvoth that prohibit us from improper behavior, especially from worshiping strange gods and participating in forbidden relationships. Nevertheless, the Torah here offers a non specific admonition: "Speak to Bnei Yisroel and say to them, 'I am Hashem your God. Do not perform the practices of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; do not perform the practices of the land of Canaan to which I bring you, and do not follow their traditions. Carry out My laws and safeguards..."             Several questions immediately arise. The first question is obviously if these places were so terrible, why put Bnei Yisroel there to begin with, especially, as Rashi says, Egypt and Canaan are singled out as the most depraved of all the nations among whom we would reside. Further, what practices does Hashem want us to avoid; the major ones of idol worship and promiscuity are already covered in other verses and commandments. Are these different practices Hashem want us to avoid?