Vice-President, Association of Certified Chaplains in South Africa
Torah corner with Rabbi B. E. Silbert .A Mystical Perspective on Parshat Emor This Parsha begins with the command in the verse: "And God said to Moshe, Speak to the Priests" — the people who assisted in achieving atonement and whose presence in the Temple service constituted a sign that there existed a never-ending relationship between the Creator and His creation, which may therefore be described as an abode for the Celestial Presence. The holiness and piety that emanated from them were reflected in every move they made and in every action they performed. " When man lives his life in recognition of the fact that he emerges from a Spiritual root (Divine inspiration) and that his dedication reflects upon his life and acts, these in themselves attain a level of sanctity. The Parsha of Emor contains teachings related to a specific halachic topic (the laws governing a Kohen) and yet, within this restricted area, we find restraints and a concept of holiness and piety that touches upon all areas of life. This should serve to stress the teachings of the Torah and to depict the target the Torah wishes to lead us to. Our Sages tell us that the reason this section comes after Acharei Mot which teaches about the punishment meted out for transgressions that pertain to the very same topics is that even though everyone is prone to sin, we do not rely upon this as an excuse to transgress "since you are human, you are prone to sin," but must strive to achieve a higher level of purity and holiness. #parshathashavua #bible #Torah #Rabbi #judaism #kabbalah #mysticism.
