Parshas Emor
The Importance of Having Role Models
This week's parsha addresses in particular the laws and duties incumbent
upon the kohanim, the priests and public servants of Israel. The kohanim
were chosen to be the civil servants of Israel. They owned no property in
the Land of Israel and were dependent upon the support of the Jewish
community through the gifts of terumah (a donation of approximately two
percent of the produce of the farmer's field), and other specific gifts
that were given to them. The kohanim "worked" in the Temple for
two or three weeks a year (two week shifts rotated among twenty-four
families of the kohanim) but their major task was to be the educators and
teachers of the Jewish people. The prophet Yeshayahu describes the kohein
thusly: "For the lips of the kohein shall safeguard the law and the faith,
and the teachings of the Torah shall be asked of him." Thus the kohanim
represented the two most necessary ingredients for decent society - the
devoted public servant and the moral educator and teacher. These two
categories of people, usually ill paid and vastly unappreciated, are the
bulwark of a decent and efficient society. Without them, there is only
boorishness, corruption, ignorance and eventually lawlessness. The kohein
is thus not only a holy figure in Jewish life, he is as importantly the
basic public figure that represents the Torah, its value system and public
stance on issues of the day, to the general Jewish society of Israel.
The question therefore arises, how is one to inspire in the kohein the
necessary selflessness, devotion and spirit to be such a combination of
public servant and skilled educator? Part of the answer to this question
is provided by the opening words of the parsha.- emor el hakohanim bnei
Aharon. Speak to the kohanim, the sons of Aharon. Tell the kohanim that
they are the sons of Aharon. It is important to have role models, to know
one's pedigree and ancestry. Remembering that he is descended from Aharon,
the man who loved peace and pursued it, whose love for Israel knew no
bounds and whose example brought people closer to Torah, alone can inspire
a later descendant to fulfill the taxing role of being a proper kohein. A
kohein who realizes that he is a ben Aharon a descendant and replacement
if you wish for the great Aharon himself, will undoubtedly be able to
fulfill his roles as public servant and inspired educator nobly and
successfully. Knowing who you are, where you came from, wonderfully
enables one to succeed in the great tasks of life that challenge all of
us, especially those of us the kohanim who are meant to serve and teach
the Jewish society the ways of Torah and tradition. I hope that this
coming generation of Jews will produce true kohanim public servants of
integrity and merit and teachers that inspire and educate. Then we will
realize that Aharon and his descendants still live in the midst of Israel.
Shabat shalom.
Rabbi Berel Wein
Text Copyright © 2005 by Rabbi Berel Wein and Torah.org
Visit www.rabbiwein.com for a complete selection of Rabbi Wein's books and tapes.
