Weekly D'var

PARSHAT EMOR
Ethan Bo

Shabbat Shalom,

This week's Parsha, Emor, revolves around two main themes: the high behavioral and ethical requirements of the Kohanim and other high expectations for the Israelites, and the appointment of the Shabbat and major festivals on their specific days in the calendar. At first glance, these two topics may seem disjointed from one another, a rather stark transition from one topic to the next. However, I believe there's something to be gleaned from this placement, and further, that one may be the key to the other.

The first four aliyot of this Parsha instruct the Kohanim, the most visible personages of the Temple rituals, on laws of exceptionally high standard and stringency. Beyond even the laws that have been levied on the rest of the people, these sons of Aaron are commanded to go above and beyond in their tasks, in their ritual purity, and in scrupulousness. The third Aliyah gives us a hint as to why this may be: in addition to requiring high standards for the priestly class, there are adjacent rules set out for the rest of the Israelites which follow the flow and form of those given to the Kohanim. In this way, the Kohanim are meant to act as paragons of holy behavior, leading by example, and the Israelites, in turn, are commanded to follow this example and take steps to act in good and holy ways. The fourth Aliyah seems to turn on a dime, launching directly into marking the important days of the Jewish year: Shabbat, The Shalosh Regalim, the High Holidays, and what should and should not be done on those respective days. Why would our Torah go from discussing the stringencies of holy behavior right into putting dates on the calendar?

The answer, I believe, is that it is not easy to act with the highest moral code and restraint at all times. For a person to simply decide that from some random point, they will only ever be on best behavior and expect to keep that promise, would be a fruitless endeavor. Hashem created humankind - He knows our nature, what is easy for us and what is difficult. To ask us to lead by example in patience and restraint at all times would be a difficult thing to accomplish. That is why, I believe, the Parsha turns to discussing holy times- Shabbat, and the Holidays – because they provide for us the foothold in time to take ownership of our words and our actions, and to have a reason (even for a day) to be on our best and most holy behavior.

In our world today, this is not always the easiest thing to accomplish. Those of us who walk home down North Michigan Avenue will sometimes encounter scores of masked protesters, chanting a cacophony of calls for our destruction and desecration. Keeping a cool, calm, Shabbosdik demeanor is more than just a commandment, it is denying those who would see us dissolved the opportunity to rob us of this holy day.

Within any community, too, tempers may flare and grudges can begin to form in the normal course of human interaction. But in a community, especially a community of faith, it is distinctly important that we observe and keep the spirit of the Shabbat and holidays. Regardless of perceived slights or real ones, the onus is upon each of us to be the bigger person, and to espouse extreme grace and patience to our fellow.

Going one level deeper, the spirit of Shabbat and the holidays must be honored in the home, where even in the privacy of our domiciles our behavior should reflect holiness and respect. For example, my Eliana is an extremely intelligent person, and we like to talk about the world we live in, and the ideas that affect the people in it. On occasion, we may disagree, but we take extra care to exercise respect and patience for one another. No matter how strongly we feel about a subject, we know deep down that neither means the other any harm, so even complete disagreements can be held in the utmost respect.

Friends, living in our world can be difficult, especially as we are bombarded at all times by constant news of threats and fears around the world and closer to home. It is human nature to become upset, sometimes at the world, and sometimes at one another. Six days a week we might be at the mercy of our own circumstances, our emotions, and other factors that may influence our words and our actions. But, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote in the name of his father Moshe Mordechai Heschel, "Ye shall kindle no fire - not even the fire of righteous indignation" on Shabbat and these holy times. Friends, let us continue to lead by example in exercising the utmost restraint, respect for one another, and holiness, in action and in speech, on this holy Sabbath day which we have been commanded to observe.

Another way to put it: Shabbat Shalom