Parsha: Emor

Day#1: Leviticus 21:1-15

Emor, when translated from Hebrew to English, means “to say” or “to speak.”  However, this is not the simple notion of talking without reason. The deeper connotation of Emor is that HaKadosh Baruch Hu is holding a deep, intimate conversation with His Kedoshim. Unlike generals in an army spitting out orders, Hashem is lovingly speaking to His bride. This conversation is of the most Holy and intimate topics—Priestly service and Holy Days.

Beyond mere duties that we must or must not partake in, HaKadosh Baruch Hu is portraying details about our divine marital vows. Like lines in a ketubah, each command is a promise—a vow, that if kept will lead to the most loving and intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Such a relationship brings blessing and shalom. It breaks the cycles of abuse, darkness, and terror that is held dear to many of…

Parsha: Emor

Day#2 (Part 1): Leviticus 21:16-22:16

(Study Notes)

(Leviticus 21:16-17)

After discussing the various ways in which the Priests are not to defile themselves, HaKadosh Baruch Hu communicates the that any Priest with a defect cannot perform the animal sacrifices. Meaning, they are prohibited from offering the food of Hashem.

(Leviticus 21:18-20)

Day#2 (Part 2): Leviticus 22:1-16

(Study Notes)

(Leviticus 22:1-3)

We can understand this reasoning by connecting this discussion with the next command: Aaron and his sons (meaning the High Priest and the priests in every generation) must be “scrupulous” about the sacred donations, lest the name of HaKadosh Baruch Hu be profaned. These donations include the animal sacrifices, the tithes, and the rituals to be performed with each.

Scrupulous (/ˈskruːpjələs/) describes someone or something extremely meticulous, precise, and attentive to details, or strictly honest and principled. It implies a high regard for ethics or accuracy, often used for careful work or moral integrity. (Merriam-Webster; Vocabulary.com; Collin’s Dictionary).

This means that the priests are to take great care and go to great painstaking lengths to ensure every detail is fulfilled precisely. This is difficult enough for a fully able-bodied priest, let alone a man with God-given limitations. If a priest becomes…

Parsha: Emor

Day#3: Leviticus 22:17-33 (Study Notes)

After giving commandments to the priests, HaKadosh Baruch Hu moves back to conversing with the general public, though the commandments are relayed through Moshe Rabbeinu. We will see here that there is a clear message that there is one law for the native-born Israelite and the ger who convert to Judaism and join the Jewish Israelite flock. This oneness of law illuminates the oneness of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the oneness of His Torah, and therefore the oneness of His flock.

(Leviticus 22:17-20)

We learn that when an Israelite OR a ger in Israel presents a burnt offering as a votive or free-will offering, we must offer it in a manner that will allow the offering to be accepted and counted in our (the one who brings offerings) favor.

We have previously studied these types of offerings, which are discussed in detail in Leviticus…