Parashas Emor

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Emor and starts out with the Laws to the Kohanim , to ensure that they keep Holy and Pure . This is understandable , as the task of the Kohanim , is to ensure the Purity of our nation , by their offerings that are done by them on our behalf , thus helping us achieve a closer relationship with HaShem . The Haftorah for this Parsha is in Yechezkiel Ezekiel 44 : 15 - 31 and also speaks of the Laws of Purity of the Kohanim . The Kohanim , who seek Purity in the nation , must therefore ensure , that they must be first and fore-most , very Clean and Pure themselves . One cannot clean a stain with a cloth that is already dirty , so the Kohanim themselves , who help clean the nation , must themselves first be Clean and Holy and Pure and fully Torah Observant . They may not contaminate themselves for one who has passed away , except for a close relative . They may not make a bald spot on their heads and they shall not shave the edge of their beard or cut a gash in their flesh , for they shall be Holy to HaShem and not desecrate His Name , Chas Ve Shalom . They may not marry a woman who is a Zonah , a harlot , or a woman who has been desecrated , or a woman who is a Gerushah , a Divorcee and the Kohein Gadol is not allowed to marry a widow , where an ordinary Kohein can . The Laws for the Kohein Gadol are even stricter than for an ordinary Kohein , for he cannot marry an Almanah , a Widow and cannot even contaminate himself , even for his relative's passing .
Torah also Instructs that they may also not do the Avodah if they have a ' Mum ( pronounced as " Moom ) " - " A Blemish , " or if they are blind , lame , or if they lack a nose bridge , or one limb is longer than the other , or if they have a broken leg or arm , or abnormally long eyebrows , or a membrane on their eye or a blemish in their eye , or a dry or moist skin eruption or crushed testes . For those that have these , from the offspring of Aharon Ha Kohein , may not do the fire-offerings of HaShem . In those days , if a person had a Spiritual problem with their holiness , it would show up physically in one of these so mentioned ways , and thus would these things disqualify them from doing the Avodah . They would also be forbidden to do the Avodah , if they had any of the previously mentioned Contaminations , where it comes to eating of that which the Kohein is to partake of from the holy offerings . Torah goes into the Laws of Terumah , the one fiftieth of the crop that is the Kohein's Portion . 
Torah then Speaks of the offerings themselves , that they must be unblemished . 
The Torah Portion then continues with the " Mo'adei HaShem Asher Tik're'u Otam Mik'ra'ei Kodesh , " - " The Appointed Festivals of HaShem , that you are to " designate as Holy Convocations , " which refers to our Yomim Tovim that we celebrate and keep throughout the year . They are also called Moadim , for within this word is the word " Eid " which means " Witness , " for when we keep HaShem's Festivals , we stand as witnesses to HaShem's Oneness and Truth . HaShem Set these Festivals at Creation , even though their connections with and reasons for keeping them , took place through our Biblical History . I mention this , because Pesach is celebrated as our Exodus from Egypt and Shavuos , is also the Day we received the Torah Ten Commandments on Har Sinai , and Succos also has a connection , to the Clouds of Glory of HaShem that surrounded us in the Wilderness . Rosh HaShanah , is the New Year and Yom Kippur , the Day of Atonement . So all these days Were Created already at Creation , yet with our history , only was Commanded to the Children of Israel , after we left Mitzrayim . Yet our Fore-Fathers did keep these days Holy before , the events which were tied to them , even came about or took place . For example , Avraham already made and ate Unleavened Bread in his life-time and was busy preparing it , when the Giant Og , came to tell him that his nephew Lot had been taken captive by the four kings over the five , for this time , was actually the time of the future Passover . So Avraham had to rescue his nephew , during the time that became our Passover . The same was with the Malachim that came to Sodom , to Lot , for it was Passover then . HaShem Instructs that we are to designate these Holy Festivals , for HaShem Put in our charge , the intercalculation of the Jewish Calender , so as to set it up and also say when each New Moon Rosh Chodesh starts and to add in a leap year when necessary , so thus we were to designate the Festivals , called " Holy Convocations , " where the word " Convocations " means " Holy Days of our people gathering as one , " ( Ramban ) . We have a Lunar Calendar and a Solar Calendar and when putting the two together , they don't quite coincide with the exact number of days , for the Lunar Month is a bit shorter than the Solar Month and thus , in order to keep HaShem's Commandment of always celebrating the Pesach in the Spring , a Month chosen by HaShem's Mercy and Compassion , for it is a mild weathered month and so , was easier to be freed on this month to travel , we add every few years an extra leap year month Adar 1 and Adar 2 , so that the months of the Lunar Calendar , will always be closer , in matching the two alongside each other , to the Solar Calendar . The muslims , also follow a Lunar Calendar , but don't put in that leap year month every few years as we do , coming seven times in every 19 year cycle - Chabad , so their celebratory days tend to jump around from year to year . HaShem Thus Commanded us to be the ones to designate our Holy Convocations , thus Making us a partner in His Creation , Celebrating the Festivals With us . The very first Festival mentioned here is Passover Pesach . This is mentioned first , As HaShem Commanded that this Month of Nissan in which Pesach comes , will be to us the First of the Months . 
On Pesach ,we are to eat Unleavened Bread Matzos for the seven day period of the Festival . Between Pesach and Shavuot , we count the Omer , for 49 days , where on the 50th day , we Celebrate the Festival of Shavuot , on which Day , HaShem Came Down On Har Sinai . While we were in Egypt , Egypt at the time was the lowest Spiritual Place at the time , the most impure , and they had reached the 49th level of impurity . Seeing that we lived there , we were exposed to this Tum'a Impurity , the same Impurity and Impure sources , with which they performed their sorcery and the same impurity that they had , that had them committing every single Forbidden act of Immorality that Torah Commanded us in the previous Parasha , not to commit . So , when we left Egypt , before we were Spiritually on a level to meet HaShem , we had to climb these 49 levels , toward Purity and so , between Pesach and Shavuot , we count the 49 Days of the Omer , on which we purify ourselves , to meet HaShem on Shavuot . The seven weeks of seven , take us to Holiness , where we know , the number seven is a holy number , and seven sets of seven , Holy upon Holy . The Gematriah of Moshiach is Seven . The Sabbath , Which Is Also Mentioned In this Parsha , is on the Seventh Day . The Sabbatical Year is the seventh year and seven Sabbatical years takes us to the number forty nine , whereafter , comes the Yovel Jubilee Year . So we count seven sets of seven , and on that next day , ( like an 8th after the 7 ) , on that 50th day , is Shavuot , the Day we received HaShem's Revelation on Mount Sinai and were Given by HaShem , the Ten Pronouncements , after purifying ourselves through the 49 day count of the Omer Offering and on that next day , the 50th Day , is Shavuot . So do we celebrate Shavuot , having reached that 50th Day , like the 50th Gate of Purity , for which Moshe Rabbeinu ( who started by having to climb up Pharaoh's 49 steps ( like the 49 levels of impurity of Pharaoh ) to speak to Pharaoh , for Pharoah's throne was at the top of 49 steps , on the 50th step , representing his 49 / 50 steps of impurity ) Moshe climbed through all 49 Gates of Purity and Wisdom and went on Spiritually toward that 50th Gate of Holiness , after his passing . Such was the Festival of Shavuot . It was also due to the Omer offering , that we also warranted saving in the time of Purim , for it was the time of Pesach , when this event of haman happened in Shushan and haman had given 10 000 kikar to have us Jews exterminated . It was on the Second Day of Pesach when the decree was turned around on haman's own head , when haman had to parade Mordechai in front of the people . For Mordechai was teaching at that very time , when haman had come to fetch him to put him on the ride , ready for parading , about the Omer that had to be offered at this very time , and so this Omer counteracted , the money given by haman . ( Midrash Vayikra - Rabbi M Weissman ) . 
HaShem Reminds us that when we reap our harvest , we should not remove completely , the corners of our fields when we reap , and not gather the gleanings of our harvest , but for the poor and the proselyte , are we to leave them . 
HaShem Then Commands on Rosh HaShanah , the First of Tishrei . Rosh HaShanah , goes back to the Beginnings of Bereishis , for it was on Rosh HaShanah , that HaShem Created Adam Ve Chava , so this is the Day of the World's True New Year . The Shofar that we blow , commemorates the Akeidah , where Avraham offered a Ram , in place of his beloved son Yitzchak . Rosh HaShanah and The Ten Days of Repentance , bring us to the 10th of Tishrei , Yom Kippur , which are days of Atoning , where it was on Yom Kippur , that Moshe came down after his third time of 40 days and 40 nights up on Har Sinai , when he finally gained forgiveness for us after the Chait Ha Eigel . So on Yom Kippur , we Fast and Atone . 
Five days after this , we celebrate the Festival of Succos for a seven day period , where we dwell in our Succas and take the Lulav and Etrog , the Four Species , and Rejoice before HaShem . Yes Rejoicing is a Mitzvah , to be happy and rejoice with Kiddush . The four species that we take on Succos and bind them together , represent the four types among our people that are brought together as one and become one as our people should be one , making up for each other's strengths and weaknesses . The Four Species are the Esrog , the Citron , which tastes and smells nice and represents those of our people who have learning and morals - good actions ; the Lulav branch ( Date-Palm ) , whose fruit has a nice taste but no odor , represents those who have learning but lack morals - good actions ; the Myrtle , which has a nice odor , but no taste , represents those who have no Torah learning or deficient Torah learning , yet have morals and good actions and deeds ; and the Willow , which has no odor and no taste , represents those who have no Torah learning and no morals and good deeds . So when all are held together , we all become one and help each other . The fact that there are " Four " Species , assists in forgiveness for the Four types of death penalty ( Midrash Vayikra - Rabbi M Weissman ) . All of these species also have a connection to being near a water source , so , is the World Blessed with Water at this time . At this time we also have the ancient Festival of the Water Drawing . We dwell in Succos Booths during this Festival and welcome the Ushpizin , the special Guests of our Holy Fore-Fathers and Holy Men from our Torah and Tanach , welcoming every day we are in the Succah , a new Guest . The Ushpizin are Araham , Yitzchak , Yaakov , Yosef , Moshe , Aharon and Dovid ha Melech . Each Day of Succos , one of these Holy men can come visit us and see that we are giving to the poor . On the next day after Succos , we celebrate a special Festival called Shemini Atzeres , the Eighth Day Feast where , we spend an extra day of Holiness with HaShem , showing HaShem , after all these Holy Days , that we still want to be close to HaShem , Just As HaShem , Wants that extra Day with us . These are the Festivals of Israel . 
HaShem Then Commands about the Menorah and how only the purest first drop of Olive Oil can be used for the Menorah , purely hand squeezed one olive per one drop squeezed , for only the first drop of an olive per olive can be used as olive oil for the Menorah . Aharon was to light the Menorah , from evening to morning , as an eternal decree . HaShem Commands on the Showbread 12 loaves for the Shulchan Table , to be changed before every Shabbos , and the Showbread from the previous week would still remain fresh . 
The Torah then relates the happening of the hamekaleil , the blasphemer . This man , was actually the son of Dasan's wife Shelomis , who had been taken in a forceful manner by the egyptian taskmaster , who was beating Dasan , on that day that Moshe had come to save him . Shelomis was known to lack modesty , and liked to be a bit flirtatious with other men and so was her name Shelomis , for she often said Shalom hello to other males . On that day , the Egytpian taskmaster had come to Dasan's house to look for Dasan to call him for work . After Dasan had left , the egyptian taskmaster returned and took advantage of her , after she was overly friendly verbally with him . She had not wanted it to go that far . When he saw Dasan , he wanted to silence the matter that he had been with her , where he had conceived with her a child , so he beat Dasan and this is where Moshe came on the scene and helped him . Thus her son , was fathered by an egyptian . It was this son , that is here , in Torah , mentioned as the blasphemer , who had taken on his father's evil character . He is mentioned here after the Showbread , for it was about the Showbread , that he chose to ridicule Moshe and his teachings , trying to make out that the bread from the previous week couldn't last the week in freshness . This person came and put up his tent within the area of the Tribe of Dan ( for he thoght that he should , as his Mother was a Danite ( though lineage only goes through the Father , and he did not have a Jewish Father ), for previously , he liked to stay outside the camp , near the people who were not allowed into the camp due to impurity . Another Danite questioned his action saying he was not allowed to be there , within the tribe of Dan , for his ( this blasphemer's ) father was an egyptian , and thus not a member of the Tribes . He argued and the matter was brought to Moshe's Beth Din . When the blasphemer asked who his father was , he was told that his father was the egyptian that Moshe had killed . The blasphemer asked how Moshe had done this , and was told that Moshe had pronounced HaShem's Four Letter Name and the egyptian had fallen dead . When the blasphemer heard this , he disrespectfully said this Very Holy Name and Blasphemed The Name . When he was taken to Moshe for judgement , Moshe did not want to give judgement himself as Moshe had a personal issue in this matter , and so asked HaShem what to do . HaShem Instructed that this blasphemer must be taken outside the Camp and those who heard his blasheming , must be the first to stone him and so was this done . 
HaShem Then Teaches on punishment of a life for a life , and restitution being given for injury caused to another . It is here in Torah that HaShem Mentions " Ayin Tachas Ayin , " - " An Eye for an Eye . " This does not mean that if someone takes out a person's eye , that so must be done to them . Not at all . The word " Tachat , " literally means " Under " so it says " An Eye under an Eye , " which means that not the eye is taken out of the perpetrator for the eye they may cause to come out of someone else . But a lesser restitution is calculated via money restitution , and this is the same with other injuries mentioned . We also know that money is being referred to as the judgement , because the Gematriah of the word " Tachat , " is 400+8+400 = 808 and 8+0+8 = 16 and 1+6 = 7 , which is the same as the Gematriah of the word " Kesef " - " Money , " which is 20+60+80 = 160 and 1+6+0 = 7 . So both " Kesef " and " Tachat , " both have the same Gematriah . 
The Parsha ends with the death of the Blasphemer . HaShem Tells us , " There shall be one Law for you , it shall be for the proselyte and the native alike , for I , HaShem , am your G-d . " So ends the Parsha . 
This Parsha is called " Emor , " - " Say . " HaShem Could Have Used any form of the Word " Amar / Omer " as the word for " Say . " So why did HaShem Use the form of the word as " Emor . " 
If we look at the Gematriah of the word " Emor , " it comes to the same as Mashiach . " Emor " is 1+40+200 = 241 and 2+4+1 = 7 . As the word " Mashiach " is 7 in Gematriah . So this Command to be Pure , is to continue till Moshiach's time , just as Moshiach and the Days of Moshiach are Pure and the Days of Olam HaBah , will be Pure. , just like the Kohanim are instructed to be Pure , in this Parsha . A direct word " Emor " is given here , which is the Commanding Form of the word as a ' Command ' is used here , as HaShem Gives the Kohanim , a direct Command to command us to be holy and pure and obedient to G-D . This is why , in this first verse of the Parsha , the word , " Emor , " is repeated , " in the word " Ve'Amarta , " for HaShem Tells / Commands the Kohanim , to Tell / Command us , to be Holy and Pure , through time . The Kohanim and us , through time , are to be Pure and Holy and continue to ensure that we keep holy and Pure , no matter what our Yetzer Horah tries to pull us to do . The Kohanim , were , at the time , the teachers of HaShem's Torah and so , they had to be the example of Obedience , Purity and Holiness , to HaShem . Commands are given to them first and foremost to be Holy , for , being Holy , is the best teacher by example . We will quicker listen to a teacher who is what they tell others to be , than one that isn't . Before they puritfy others , they must first purify themselves .
This is the same for all of us . Before we start telling others how to be good and holy , we must first look at ourselves and make ourselves good and moral and holy . Being holy , is the best teacher for others and those around us . Teaching by example , has the best impression , to those we come in contact with . It is so easy to look at others and judge others , but we need to first look at and within ourselves . Are we moral as we should be ? Do we always do what we should ? Are we always as kind to others as we should be ? Are we a good example of morality and correctness ? Are we who we should be , morally and religiously ? Are we as religious and Torah- Following as we should be ? Of course we are not . We can always do better and improve . I am not saying that we must not teach others to improve . I am saying that we also need to look at ourselves , before we look to and hunt for the faults of others . If we are totally honest with ourselves , we will find plenty of room for improvement . We often see the very faults in others , that are most apparent , within ourselves . Perhaps we should think on that . The very things that catch our attention in others , are the very things that probably need improvement within us . 
HaShem Tells the Kohanim to be pure , before they purify others . This is how it should be with us all . Let us all look within , and clean our own Avodas HaShem , before we go out and tell others the same things that we ourselves have a fault with . Cleaning our own faults , will Spiritually cause a ripple , in everything around us , and so , will send Spiritual Cleansing , to those around us that have the same issue to correct , and so will others easier listen to our well meaning attempts to purify this World . When we notice a specific problem in others , there may be a reason , why that specific thing caught our attention . Perhaps HaShem Is " Emor " - " Saying and Talking " To us through our own will , so we can look deeper into ourselves and correct that very thing with ourselves . HaShem " Emor " - " Speaks " To us All The Time . We really need to listen and look closer at everything that catches our attention and at everything that happens around us , For HaShem , Who Is Filled With Love and Caring and Compassion , Surrounds us With So Much Love , and All we see and perceive , is also for our own benefit to better ourselves and raise ourselves to Heaven and to HaShem .
I wish HaShem With Sweetest and Deepest Love , a Very Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh With Sweetest Love , and to all my fellow Jews , and to all of Creation , a Very Holy Shabbos Kodesh with Love .