Parshas Emor May 8, 2020

A Taste of Torah Stories for the Soul Exceptionally Pure Performance Enhancer by Rabbi Aharon Wilen Rabbi Naftali Amsterdam (1832- The Talmud (Kesubos 103b) relates for kohanim to contract tumah from 1916) was one of the prime disciples that the day that the author of the a dead body is because a person is of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, the Mishna, Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, comprised of both a body and a founder of the mussar movement, died, kedusha (holiness) ceased. soul. On one side is the soul that has which placed a great focus on The basic meaning of this is that aspirations for spiritual greatness. improving ones character. Rabbi Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, affectionately On the other side is the body, whose Amsterdam served as rabbi of a known as Rebbe, was known for search for physical fulfillment leads number of communities across his outstanding holiness and had the person to all types of evil. After Europe during his lifetime, and he achieved a level of sanctity that was death, when a person’s soul has eventually settled in Eretz Yisrael unmatched in his era; this type of left, all that remains is the physical later in life. Throughout his career, holiness ended upon his passing. shell, the body, the cause of all of he strove to study mussar and to Tosafos (ibid. s. v. oso) offers an the person’s sins and shortcomings. impart its lessons, as he had been alternate explanation based on the This is why the Torah deems a taught by his great teacher. human corpse impure, as one Jerusalem Talmud. The Jerusalem Someone once found a written should recognize that something Talmud says on the day Rebbe died, statement in Rabbi Amsterdam’s which causes sin is repulsive. there was no kehuna, no priesthood. bag expressing his commitment to Tosafos explain that generally, The kohanim, whose job it is to helping all Jews return to the path kohanim (priests) are forbidden to perform the service in the Bais of Torah observance. come into contact with a dead body Hamikdash (Temple), are consecrated other than that of their immediate Upon being how he planned to to the service of Hashem. As His carry out this bold resolution, family and a meis mitzvah (a body servants, it is not befitting that they that has nobody to bury it), as asked Rabbi Amsterdam replied, come into contact with anything “I have resolved to keep all of the discussed at the beginning of this that represents sin. Therefore, they week’s parsha. This precludes laws of the Shulchan Aruch (Code are forbidden to come into contact of Jewish Law) strictly. In this way, kohanim from actively participating with a human corpse. in other funerals, as they cannot be I will serve as a living Shulchan part of the burial process. However, Based on this, the Sefer Hachinuch Aruch, and anyone who wants to keep the Torah will be able to see it was permitted for kohanim to fully explains the story of the death of in me a living example of one who participate in Rebbe’s funeral and Rebbe. The Talmud (Kesubos 104a) follows Hashem’s ways and will burial, even though such activity is relates that on his deathbed, Rebbe learn from me how to return to normally forbidden. held up his hands and said, “Master of the Universe, it is clear and Torah.” This is rather perplexing. Why known to You that I toiled in Torah In this week’s parsha we are should there be any exceptions to with all my ten fingers, and I did not commanded to sanctify Hashem’s this prohibition? derive benefit even with my smallest Name among the Jewish Although the rules of tumah, spiritual finger.” Rebbe was so dedicated to People. Oftentimes, the greatest impurity, are a chok, a mitzvah whose his efforts in Torah study that his sanctification of Hashem’s Name meaning is not readily apparent, body did not derive any unnecessary is to live perfectly in accordance a basic insight into these rules can pleasure from this world. Rebbe’s with His commandments, thus help us understand this exception. body was never used improperly; modeling and inspiring others to The Sefer Hachinuch (Mitzvah it served solely as a vehicle for his emulate such an approach to life. 263) explains that the prohibition service of Hashem, and never did his continued on back

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