Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts – Emor – 4.30.2010

This week’s parsha gave me some challenge. It discusses the holidays in detail. Shabbat, the high holidays, the festivals and Passover are all discussed. Everyone is fairly familiar with these celebrations…so what else is there to say?

When I remember talking with non-Jewish people I always was amazed how many people knew about holidays other than Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. These are holidays that most Jewish people would describe as “secondary”. But here is the thing… these are not secondary holidays, they are part of the Torah. So when we have the chance to celebrate, we should not think about it as just a communal event, but also as an affirmation to the world of our choice to honor the religious calendar.

When we celebrate as a family we build the foundation of our faith and our lives. Because we celebrate them as a community we create past, present and future bonds with our people. And since these holidays are known to the world at large it is a chance to express our Jewish service and commitment (in our own way) to the world. It is a little chance for us to be “a light unto the nations”. So this week let’s remind ourselves that our holidays are not only a familial and communal chance to bond and grow. But that our commitment to our system of beliefs and actions are a statement of our commitment to the world. In a distinctly Jewish way we have the opportunity to remind the world of the code of ethics that we try to live up to everyday.

This week we are given a simple way to interact with the world in a way the outside world can understand but that is singularly Jewish and separate. It is a wonderful way to remind ourselves of the balancing act that we always maintain being a part of the world and apart from the world. But a balancing act that is inspiring instead of imperiling, achievable instead of daunting and understandable by everyone. This week’s portion reminds us that when we celebrate in a Jewish way we can send a message to the world and it is an opportunity we should be proud to take on.

Shabbat Shalom.

From chabad.org

General Overview: This week's reading, Emor, discusses the laws which pertain to Kohanim (priests), and various laws which relate to sacrifices. These are followed by a lengthy discussion of the festivals. The portion concludes with the story of a blasphemer who was put to death.
________________________________________
First Aliyah: The aliyah discusses the Kohen's obligation to maintain a high level of ritual purity, and the women he may marry. An ordinary Kohen is prohibited to come in contact with a human corpse -- except to attend the funerals of his next of kin -- and may not marry a divorcee as well as some other women. The High Priest is not permitted to attend even family funerals, and is required to marry a virgin.
________________________________________
Second Aliyah: This section discusses bodily blemishes and ritual impurities which disqualify a Kohen from performing the Temple priestly duties. The aliyah then lays down the rules regarding who in the Kohen's household may eat terumah, the tithe from produce given to the Kohanim.
________________________________________
Third Aliyah: Blemished animals are disqualified for sacrificial use. This aliyah also forbids the castration of animals, sacrificing animals before they are eight days old, and slaughtering a mother animal and her child on the same day. The aliyah concludes with the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem, sanctifying G d's Name by giving one's life rather than transgressing certain cardinal sins.
________________________________________
Fourth Aliyah: This section begins a lengthy discussion about the Jewish holidays. After making brief mention of the Shabbat, the Torah talks about the holiday of Passover and the mitzvah of eating matzah. On the second day of this holiday, an "omer" barley offering is brought in the Temple. This is followed by a seven-week counting period that culminates with the holiday of Shavuot. After discussing the Shavuot Temple service, the Torah briefly interrupts the holiday discussion to mention the obligation, when harvesting fields, to leave certain gifts for the poor.
________________________________________
Fifth Aliyah: The High Holidays are discussed. We are commanded to hear the shofar (ram's horn) on Rosh Hashanah, and to "afflict" ourselves on Yom Kippur.
________________________________________
Sixth Aliyah: The autumn holiday of Sukkot is now introduced. During this seven-day holiday we are commanded to sit in outdoor booths, take the Four Species (citron, palm branch, myrtles, and willows), and rejoice before G d. The final holiday is Shemini Atzeret, a one-day holiday which immediately follows Sukkot.
________________________________________
Seventh Aliyah: We are instructed to use the purest of olive oils for the daily kindling of the Temple menorah, and to arrange twelve "showbreads" on the Temple Table every Shabbat. The Torah then tells the story of a Jewish man who was put to death for blaspheming G d. The portion concludes with the penalties for committing murder, property damages, and personal injury.