This week’s Parsha, Emor, begins with an intimate conversation between Moshe and the Cohanim.
This week’s Parsha, Emor, begins with an intimate conversation between Moshe and the Cohanim. They are reminded of their unique role in the community and in the creation of a conscious community and a people that is compassionate, just, aware of and appreciative of the Ineffable Source of Life.
The Cohanim are instructed to avoid impurity and to be exemplars of righteousness.
Rabbi Mordechai Josef of Ishbitz notes a commentary in the Zohar on the following verse: “An ox or a ewe, do not slaughter it and it’s young in the same day.” Lev. 22:28). The Zohar writes: “We have learned that actions below arouse corresponding actions from above. If a person acts properly below, it arouses a similar power from above. If a person acts with kindness in the world, it arouses kindness from above, etc. It is like this for the opposite as well. If a person acts with cruelty in the world, cruelty is aroused on that same day, and strikes back. In the same way we deal with the world, the world will deal with us.”
Much of this Parsha is also devoted to how we celebrate time, in nature and in history. We have here a clear review of the special days and festivals that bring us closer together as a community and in communion with the Life of the Universe.
May all our days be cherished.
BaMidbar,
Reb David