Lessons on Emor
Sanctifying the Name
The conviction that being a Jew involves the pursuit of justice and the practice of compassion is what led our ancestors to stay loyal to Judaism despite all the pressures to abandon it.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Iyar 4 5782
The Chosen Tribe
Not every kohen was necessarily fit for the task, nor did he live up to the responsibilities of the priesthood. However, as a group it is obvious the family of Aaron is deservedly held in high regard throughout Jewish society.
Rabbi Berel Wein | Iyar 4 5782
All for One, One for All
Why don’t we just make one bracha at the beginning of the count, on the first night, & then say a closing bracha on the last night? Why are there 49 separate brachot recited?!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Iyar 2 5782
Shabbat and Holidays in a Jewish State
Is it permitted to violate the laws of Shabbat in the process of sanctifying the new month? Why does the Torah repeat the introductory terms about the mo’adim and mention Shabbat in the middle?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Iyar 2 5782
Is Being a "Torah Jew" Enough?
Looking into this week's Parshat Emor to discover the definition of Hilul HaShem [desecration of G-d's Name] in a national sense and what it means with regards to living in the Diaspora.
Baruch Gordon | Iyar 20 5781
On Not Being Afraid of Greatness
The two commands are respectively the prohibition against desecrating God’s name, Chillul Hashem, and the positive corollary, Kiddush Hashem, that we are commanded to sanctify God’s name. But in what sense can we sanctify or desecrate God’s name?
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Iyar 17 5781
