Avrum's Shiur
Shalom! I hope you and your loved ones are well.
We have lost more of our courageous Israeli warriors these past few days. They died fighting for us, every Jew around the world; every human being who pursues goodness, peace and love. This shiur is dedicated to their lives, and the energy they extended toward the betterment and strengthening of Israel, the Jewish people and God's world.
Similarly, we dedicate this class to their parents, grandparents and families for their bravery to live in Israel and commitment to sending their children off to fight in the booby-trapped laneways and hollowed buildings of Gaza and the open fields of the north. Thank you for what you've done for all of us. We are forever grateful.
I'd also like to dedicate this shiur on Parshat Emor, to Rabbi Benjamin Hecht Z"l and his wife Naomi Z"l. They came through our world, for a short period of time, but left us a large bundle of goodness, kindness and Torah wisdom. They were truly holy.
This week's parsha is all about being holy. We continue learning about God's holiness and therefore our obligation to be so.
Ask yourself, 'what is holiness'? A simple answer is, God is. But what is God, within that explanation? Perfection? Purity? The Ideal?
And if so, then what are we to be? What is it we are supposed to emulate within God?
Here in this parsha God, through Moses, whispers in the Kohen's ear and tells him, ‘There are times you cannot attend your family member's funeral' (dependent on the relationship). What? 'But they are my family, God. My blood. How can I stay away?'
God responds, 'I understand. The sacrifice of being a priest is sizable. But through your commitment to my commandment to keep a distance from their bodies, you will show the B'nai Yisrael, the seriousness of being holy.
And indeed, that is the case. Think for a moment, when you attend a funeral and from behind a glass partition, a voice rings out expressing a heartfelt eulogy for a loved one. You likely can't see the Kohen, but you know he's there. You can hear his trembling voice.
Your thought is, 'come out Kohen. This is your family we are burying. Join us, please.' But he doesn't. He remains hidden. Marginalized. Separate.
That is holiness. It is an action, a full commitment to the Kohen setting aside his natural drive to mourn together with the klal - the community, because God told him to do so. The Almighty stated, 'your separateness creates purity'. And he listens, because his soul drives him to be better, to be holy. Why? Because God is.
Join us tonight when we collectively, as a chavruta, talk about God's instructions to us, to be holy. Throughout the day, think about what that means. Ask yourself, who do I know who I believe to be holy? What do I see within them? Is that what I would see within God, and more?
Am Yisrael Chai. We are a beautiful people. Let's learn Torah together and spread that elegance, refinement, holiness even further.
With love,
Avraham Yitzchak ben Ha'Rav Shraga Phyvle
"Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons that they shall withdraw from the holies of the Children of Israel - that which they sanctify to Me - so as not to desecrate My holy name, I am Hashem." (Emor 22:1-2)
Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87617194766?pwd=T0eKxbMdAR2uybjub1pjrkjwBwGiJB.1
