LeviticusCycle Four Emor 21:1 to 24:23

Emor

Emor focuses on the holiness of the priests, keeping that holiness, keeping Shabbat and the holidays from Pesach to Succoth. We read of the blasphemer as well as of the eternal lamp (reminiscent of the beginning of Tetzaveh.)

How can we glean some meaning from all of this? The Zohar says that a virtuous human being is an actual offering of atonement…the righteous are an atonement for the world, an offering…(Zohar, Matt translation, 1:65b). The Sfas Emet says that redemption (is) bringing the precious forth from the ordinary.

Both quotes refer to the pinnacle of holy actions, the priestly experience. Emor allows us to say these actions in our minds as we watch the priests and learn. This is after all why God has created us. To walk in His ways. To allow ourselves to be a portal to Him through (what the kabbalists might see as) an inner act of tsim tsum. We belong to God. Therefore we want to continually purify ourselves, shed off the dross, be the experience of the offerings. We want to recognize the hierarchy, vibrations of intensity, the unborn sons of the priests, those born, the priests who are (within their hearts) impure, the priests who are pure, the high priest, so we can see the way. And these vibrations are inter-woven. Rashi points out that even a high priest must touch the dead if the corpse is without family to care for it.

In so doing we see that the many rules aren’t disparate. They create the boundaries of one solid form. These boundaries therefore are the vessel, are the name. If the vessel/name of God is broken our light dissipates into the chaotic expanse. The blasphemer is one who breaks the God-vessel. We all experience this breakage…the story/experience stands out in tone...it’s a quick clear change…heartbreak… the pieces from which block the portal through which we are propelled to God.

The danger lies in refusing metaphor of Torah and seeing violence and hatred, aggression and prejudice, instead of love. The Sfas Emet says just as silver is found within the soil and has to be beaten and purified until pure silver emerges, so too the words of Torah are to be found throughout creation. Do we throw stones? Do we ostracize others? I think not. This would only ironically push us far down the vibrations, far from the priestly, from our basest expression of humanity, into the creepy things of nightmares. It’s our choice. We can see Torah as a holy blueprint of Hasehm or as a human instruction sheet filled with harsh judgment. And if we are to see Torah as both, we need to be meticulous with our discernment and foresight.

How can we bring this to our spiritual and mundane reality? Close our eyes. Remember a line from Torah, any line. See it pointing towards human experience. See compassion and light in that experience rather than human beings. See the connection. Send the healing. Know the intimacy. Be the offering. Know the mitzvoth as you know gold purified.