- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Emor
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
3046
My father once commented that this verse teaches us that true sanctity can be achieved only "in the midst of the Children of Israel," and only when the People are united. One who separates him/herself from the People cannot achieve true sanctity.
Our verse is followed by others which present the holidays, thereby teaching us that man is obligated to sanctify himself and only afterwards to sanctify time, because only after man has sanctified himself does he have the power to sanctify time as well.
There is a third realm of sanctity, that of place. As the Mishna teaches us, Eretz Israel is holier than any other land (Kelim 1:6). Our Sages understand the verse "And who is like Your people, like Israel, a nation one in the earth" (II Samuel 7:23) to mean that it is the Land of Israel which truly and fully unites the Children of Israel. Rambam cites, as a halacha, our Sages’ comment that one who dwells outside the Land Israel is as if he is an idolater (Hilkhot Melakhim 5:12). Thus, our ability to sanctify ourselves and to sanctify time ultimately depends upon the People of Israel being in its own land.
--------------------------
This is a weekly column contributed by Aloh Naaleh an organization devoted to motivating Jews to make Aliya.
Aloh Na'aleh POB 4337, Jerusalem 91042
Tel: 972-2-566-1181 ext. 320 ~ Fax: 972-2-566-1186
Email: [email protected]
Who Are the Kohanim?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Iyar 5783
Emor: The Impurity of Death and the Departure of Divinity
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Friday 14 Iyar 5783
Days of Re-establishment – How We Come Before Him in Praise – part I
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 4 Iyar 5784
Holy Times
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Iyar 5783
"Ushemartem et HaMatzot" - The Laws of Baking Matzot
Rabbi Shmuel Holshtein | 5769
As Though You Yourself Came Out of Egypt
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | 5765
Erev Pesach on Shabbos Guide
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Nissan 13 5781
