Family Fun Emor

Parshat Emor opens with the laws affecting Kohanim. As the privileged members of the Jewish nation, higher levels of purity are expected of them. They may only attend to their deceased relatives if they were of the closest 7, which the Torah lists as a father, mother, unmarried sister, brother, son, daughter, or wife.

The Kohen could not marry a divorcee or one who has had a forbidden marriage in the past. The Kohen Gadol could not marry anyone who had been married before. There is a special Mitzvah of “Vekidashto” which means that Kohanim must be accorded special levels of honour and respect. For example, you may have noticed that in shul, the first Aliya is given to the Kohen.

Only unblemished Kohanim may serve as representatives of the Jewish people.

The Torah then discusses the fact that a new-born animal must remain with its mother for seven days before it can be brought as an offering. A further law is that one may not slaughter the mother and kid animal on the same day.

The Parsha continues with the laws of the festivals but opens with a reminder that Shabbat falls every week.

First, we learn about Pesach, beginning on 15th Nissan following which we count 7 weeks until Shavuot which is the 50th day from Pesach. On Pesach we bring the Korban Omer and therefore the period of counting is called the counting of the period following the Omer offering.

Shavuot obviously is also the day we commemorate receiving the Torah on Har Sinai. We learn about Rosh Hashana, the first of Tishrei, being a day of remembrance of the sound of the Shofar. We know all about Rosh Hashana being a day of sounding the Shofar, besides for when it falls on Shabbat. Ten days later we have Yom Kippur on which adults fast, then we have Sukkot on the 15th Tishrei. Immediately after the 7th day Sukkot we have the festival called “Shemini Atzeret” on which G-d requests of us to “stay an extra day” and engage in being close with Him as it were.

The Torah then talks about the lighting of the Menorah and describes the Lechem Hapanim, the bread placed on the Shulchan each week.

The end of the Sidra describes the sad story of the man who used Hashem’s name in a negative way. He was put to death.

Finally, we learn of the laws of one who murders a fellow Jew or one who destroys their property. We must take care not only of ourselves, but of other people too. And not only do we do what is best for our own possessions, we must do the same for others’ too.