Parshat Acharei Mot–Kedoshim 5786 - "כי־הדם הוא בנפש יכפר"

Following last week’s double parsha, we are met with another this week - פרשת אחרי מות-קדושים. In אחרי מות, HaShem prohibits the consumption of blood, stating that He will “Set His face against” the transgressor, and that they shall be cut off from עם ישראל. The Torah explains the reason behind this restriction, stating: “כי נפש הבשר בדם הוא ואני נתתיו לכם על־המזבח לכפר על־נפשתיכם כי־הדם הוא בנפש יכפר - for the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the Mizbe’ach to attone for all your souls; for it is the blood that makes attonement for the soul”. It then outlines the proper procedure when hunting: one must pour out the blood of the wild animal and cover it with dust. Finally, to conclude the discourse on this איסור, the Torah reiterates the relationship between blood and soul. This passage is very difficult, and only raises questions: Why does one need to cover the blood in dust? Why does the Torah state both the connection to the soul and מזבח as reasons for this prohibition? How is the blood connected to the soul, and why is this sin warrant כרת, a punishment more severe than the rest of כשרות?