Torah Commentary - Emor

*Commentary courtesy of Menahem Me-Zahav
 

Our sidrah is named for one word in its first Passuk: “And God told Moses: Emor el Ha’Kohanim – Tell the Kohanim” (21:1). In today’s reading, the Kohanim being set apart from their Jewish brothers and sisters.   

The Torah teaches that the Jewish community must distinguish itself with holiness; whereas the rules to preserve the holiness of the Jewish people were quite demanding, the Kohanim were held to an even higher standard. They had to abide by special obligatory restrictions, abstentions, and demands that applied only to them. They followed specific rules concerning marriage, divorce, personal hygiene, permanent injury, death in the family, and general appearance. As to their daily activity, the Torah requires that the Kohanim maintain a permanent presence at the Sanctuary, for the purpose of representing the Jewish people before God: “And they (the Kohanim) shall keep my watch…I, the Lord am consecrating them” (22:9).   

The Torah then details all the religious events throughout the year, including Shabbat, Pesach (also named the Holiday of the Matzot, the Holiday of Spring, or the Holiday of Freedom, the Count of the Omer, Seffirat Ha’Omer (or the Seffira), Shavuot, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret. 

A variety of laws are mentioned towards the end of the sidrah, most notably the law known as the ‘eye for an eye’ law (24:19-20). Ancient codes of law interpret this law literally (i.e., Hammurabi’s Code); rabbinical interpretation calls for a humane punishment, like jail and a heavy fine.
 

Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31, pg. 735 

Ezekiel was among the prominent Jews forcibly brought to Babylonia with the exile of King Yehoyachin (598 BCE). The Jewish exiles, having been in Babylonia for the past 25 years, are desperately longing for redemption. Ezekiel is determined to instill in them the hope that God will soon restore them back to their own land. Babylonia will be defeated by King Cyrus, who will restore the Jewish people to their homeland. Ezekiel, using allegory in order not to irritate the Babylonians, dedicates nine full chapters (40-48) to describe the land of Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple, which will soon be resettled and rebuilt. The Kohanim are an important element in this great vision of the Temple; a special chapter is thus dedicated to them – our Haftarah.

Ezekiel, himself a Kohen, foresees the Kohanim re-establishing themselves in the new Temple: “The Levitical Kohanim, descendants of Zadok who maintained My (God’s) watch…they will be my servants” (44:15). Zadok was the forefather of an established dynasty of Kohanim, serving the Kings David and Solomon as the Bearer of the Holy Ark. Zadok later assumed the position of Kohen Gadol, and his dynasty served in both Temples and survived for almost 1,000 years, until the destruction of the second Temple (70 CE).

Ezekiel details the duties of the Kohanim, hence also the linkage to our sidrah. He expands their role to also become spiritual leaders, teachers, and judges: “And they will teach My (God’s) people and listen to their disputes…And My laws and My Holidays they will preserve and sanctify” (44:23-24).

The majestic Biblical persona of Zadok the Kohen Gadol, who presided over King David’s and King Solomon’s coronations, inspired the composer Handel over 2,500 years later. In his anthem to King George’s coronation (1727 CE), he named the final part, “Zadok the Priest.”