Please note: Candle Lighting and Shabbat Ending information are at the bottom of this messageParsha Summary Parshas Emor begins by discussing the higher level of purity that the kohanim (priests), and especially the kohen gadol (high priest), are required to maintain. A kohen is not permitted to come into contact with a dead body (except for that of a close relative) or become tamei (impure) in any other way. Additionally, a kohen has certain restrictions when choosing a wife. A kohen who has a physical blemish is forbidden to perform the service in the Temple. Terumah , the 2% of harvested grain that farmers are obligated to give kohanim , is discussed next. We are then warned not to desecrate G-d's name, but, on the contrary, to sanctify it. The Torah then discusses Shabbat and the festivals of the year, followed by two laws relating to the mishkan (tabernacle): the commandments to light the menorah in the mishkan every single day and to display the lechem hapanim (showbread) at all times The Shabbat and Peace of Mind A Holocaust survivor compared life in the US to the world he knew in Galicia before World War II. Everything is better here than it was in Eastern Europe, he said. People are healthier, have more money, study Torah more and lead an overall better quality of life. However, one thing is missing here that was abundant there: menuchat hanefesh – peace of mind. Life was hard, but simple. People weren’t so distracted then. You stayed in your town and that was your life. What we view as progress he viewed as regression. Peace of mind is perhaps our greatest asset, yet it eludes most of us in today’s fast-paced world. People are so busy, pushed to the limit in all facets of their lives, that they miss out on this most valuable commodity. Perhaps it’s noteworthy how the Torah this week describes the Shabbat and festivals. They are called moadei Hashem – periods of time with G-d. The ultimate symbol of freedom is being in control of one’s time, which is our most precious commodity. Being a slave means that someone else controls his time. By setting aside specific periods as “Times with G-d,” we acknowledge that our merciful Father in Heaven is our Master and it is He who gives us the freedom to pursue spiritual.goals, each of us in accordance with our personal strengths and abilities. We have a rendezvous with G-d once a week and at specific times of the year to commemorate certain events in Jewish history. Moadim doesn’t mean festivals, since Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, is also in this category. Rather, moadim are times for reflection, when we can gain a better comprehension and appreciation of our roles as members of the Jewish faith. Time and peace of mind are priceless commodities, especially in today’s busy world. All the timesaving gadgets at our disposal make our lives more hectic and frenetic than ever before. Cell phones and BlackBerries are devices designed for our convenience, yet they come with a hefty price: We’re always on call. A lawyer reviewed documents for a deal that his fellow lawyer negotiated on behalf of a client, and was amazed at the favorable deal he had procured. Asked how he was able to pull off such a remarkably advantageous deal with no objection from the other side, he replied, “Simple. I was the only person in the room without a BlackBerry.” Just as we need “time out” periods during the day to turn everything off and refocus, these periods are also vital during the calendar year, to keep us focused on what’s important in life. The moadim help us in that regard, instilling a greater appreciation of who we are and our distinct spiritual missions in life.
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