Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Emor THE LORD SAID TO MOSHE: SPEAK TO THE PRIESTS, THE SONS OF AHARON, AND SAY TO THEM: NONE SHALL DEFILE HIMSELF FOR ANY DEAD PERSON AMONG HIS KIN… THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSHE, SAYING: INSTRUCT AHARON AND HIS SONS… IF A MAN TOUCHES ANY SWARMING THING BY WHICH HE IS MADE UNCLEAN OR ANY HUMAN BEING BY WHOM HE IS MADE UNCLEAN – WHATEVER HIS UNCLEANLINESS – THE PERSON WHO TOUCHES SUCH SHALL BE...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Emor THEY ARE NOT TO MAKE A BALD SPOT ON THEIR HEAD, THE EDGE OF THEIR BEARD THEY ARE NOT TO SHAVE OFF, IN THEIR FLESH THEY ARE NOT TO INCISE AN INCISION. HOLY ARE THEY TO BE TO THEIR GOD.                                                                                                             (Bemidbar 21:5-6)             "YOU SHALL LIVE BY THEM – AND NOT DIE BY THEM" Shaving smooth and gashing are signs of submission; they are offered up to the god of death, whose power fills the world. This enables us to...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Emor (link to original page) Parshat Emor "These are the appointed times of God, which you are to proclaim as proclamations of holiness, for these are they, my appointed times." " . . . the appointed times of God, which you are to proclaim . . ." – determined by us in the name of heaven. A gentile asked Rabbi Akiva, saying to him: Why do you establish appointed times? Does not The Holy One, Blessed Be He, say to you: "Your new moons and your appointed times fill Me with...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Emor (link to original page) Parshat Emor Knesset Israel Cannot Be Divided. Mati Hershkovitz The Book of Leviticus is called the "Laws of the Priests" and the early Torah portions of Leviticus indeed deal with the service of the priests and the process of anointing and preparing them for their priestly duties. However, the latter Torah portions in Leviticus mainly relate to purification and sanctification of the people of Israel. Only in the Torah portion of Emor do we return to the subject of priestly purification and sanctification. The Torah portion...