בס״ד אֱ מֹ ר EMOR

In loving memory of Frida Mirel bat Chaim Simcha z"l

Volume 34 | #28 “These are the appointed festivals of God, the holy seasons 1 May 2021 which you shall fix in their appropriate time.” 19 Iyar 5781 (Vayikra 23:4) Shabbat ends: London 9.17pm Sheffield 9.38pm Glasgow 10.00pm Edinburgh 9.54pm Birmingham 9.28pm Southport 9.46pm Hull 9.36pm 7.59pm

Please look regularly at the social media and websites of the US, Tribe and your community for ongoing updates relating to Coronavirus as well as educational programming and community support. You do not need to sign into Facebook to access the US Facebook page. The US Coronavirus Helpline is on 020 8343 5696. May God bless us and the whole world. INSIDE: Bless You by Rabbi Nick Kett Emor Napoleon Bonaparte Artscroll p672 by Simon Goulden Hertz p513 Soncino p740 Eli Cohen (1924-65) Haftarah by Rabbi Michael Laitner Artscroll p1176 Hertz p528 Sefer Shofetim

Soncino p761 Daf Hashavua by Pnina Savery Sidra breakdown אֱ מֹר Emor

8h Sidra in: Bless ַו ִ ּי קְ רָ א Vayikra

By Numbers: 124 verses 1,614 words YouBy Rabbi Nick Kett, Community Rabbi, Bushey & District 6,106 letters United Synagogue

Headlines: A few years ago, I about the Kohanim and their service Laws of Cohanim, shared an idea with in the Mishkan, and latterly the sanctifying God’s my ‘Lunch and Learn’ Temple. The Kohanim have the group in Bushey, which unique opportunity to bless the Name and Yom Tov was so breathtakingly Jewish People with Birkat Kohanim, simple, but which captivated the the Priestly Blessing (Bemidbar group’s attention in such a way 6:22-27). In Israel, even today, that they still remind me of it the Kohanim bless the community occasionally after all this time. during the daily morning service, Perhaps it will resonate with you and for many, they feel proud and too… privileged to have this powerful In this week’s parasha we read blessing at their fingertips.

United Synagogue Daf Hashavua Produced by US Living & Learning Sidra Summary together with the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Vayikra 21:1-15 Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis God instructs Moshe to tell the Kohanim not to come into contact with a corpse, Editorial and Production Team: with the exception of when burying specific close relatives. They are not allowed Rabbi Daniel Sturgess, Rabbi Michael Laitner, to shave their heads or wound themselves during a mourning period (Rashi). There Rebbetzen Nechama Davis, are restrictions on whom Kohanim can marry. There is a mitzvah to show Kohanim Joanna Rose specific forms of respect (Rashi). A Kohen Gadol is not allowed to bury a close Available also via email US website relative, nor marry a widow. www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue To sponsor Daf Hashavua please 2nd Aliya (Levi) – 21:16-22:16 contact Danielle Fox on 020 8343 6261, Specific types of physical blemishes on a Kohen disqualify him from bringing or [email protected] offerings in the Temple; however, he may still eat from the offerings. A Kohen If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email who is ritually impure (tamei) can neither bring nor eat an offering until he is pure [email protected] However, it seems a little unfair and that only the non-Priests receive waiting these words of blessing. Who is to infuse blessing the Kohanim! Do they not our lives with deserve to be blessed too? more blessing. Who The answer to this lies all the would not want to take way back in Parashat Lech Lecha, advantage of this! when God was speaking to Avraham When we are walking (then called Avram) for the very first down the street and we pass time, instructing him to leave his a home, we could pause for a town and birthplace, and journey moment and confer blessing to a place yet to be revealed. God on the people living there, seeks to reassure him by saying and voila! More blessing from “I will bless those who bless you, God! and he who curses you I will curse” We do not fully appreciate (Bereishit 12:3). the power that lies within Embedded in this early message each and every one of us. is the promise that any time a It is not just Kohanim who have person seizes the opportunity the ability to bestow blessings to bless another Jew, they are on others; we all have that gift. guaranteed to be blessed by God! It comes with a divine guarantee This means that any time the that any time we take the time to Kohanim bless the community, they wish others well, we will also be too will be blessed. blessed. The ramifications of this are far For my ‘Lunch and Learn’ group, greater and more empowering than this was a life-changing idea. There we could ever imagine. Any time we are some things in life that come take an opportunity to bless another naturally and easily to us. For many person, we are divinely guaranteed people, greeting someone politely to receive blessing from God. When and consciously wishing others well we greet someone with a ‘Shalom are on that list. It is empowering to Aleichem’ or a ‘Shabbat Shalom’ – know that Heavenly blessings await also types of blessing – God is ready us for these simple gestures.

In loving memory of Devorah Bat Avraham z"l

(tahor). The laws of terumah, the first crop tithe given to the which lasts seven days, we eat matzot. The first and Kohanim, are stated. Whilst this tithe should not be eaten last days are Yom Tov, on which we refrain from specific by a non-Kohen, a Kohen’s wife and his Cana’anite servant prohibited activity (melacha). On the second day of Pesach, are permitted to eat it. the barley Omer offering is brought. There is a mitzvah to count 49 days from 16 Nissan (the second night of Pesach) 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 22:17-33 until the night before Shavuot. On Shavuot itself, the double Offerings brought to the Temple must be free of certain bread wheat offering (shtei ha’lechem) is brought and blemishes which disqualify them. An animal cannot be melacha is forbidden. brought as an offering until it is at least eight days old. Offerings have to be eaten within a certain time. There is a 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 23:23-32 mitzvah to sanctify God’s Name. Rosh Hashanah is called ‘a day of shofar blasts’. Yom Kippur is a day of fasting. On these days, melacha is also forbidden, 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 23:1-23:22 but the punishment for doing melacha on Yom Kippur is Laws of Shabbat and the festivals are listed. On Pesach, more severe. Napoleon Bonaparte by Simon Goulden, Education Consultant to the United Synagogue

This week we mark the to use them to reinforce the French 200th anniversary of nation. the death of Napoleon Napoleon actually had more Bonaparte: Corsican by influence on the Jews in Europe birth, self-declared – and crowned than his decrees might indicate, - Emperor, conqueror of most of as he broke up the feudal system mainland Europe and possible friend to of mid-Europe and introduced the the Jews. Quite what that qualification Revolutionary ideas of equality. means we can learn from his comments Recognising the Jewish community and actions. as an entity, he established a In the French Revolution, with national Consistoire Israelite in its promise of liberty, equality, and to the British and he never carried France, intended to serve as a central fraternity, the rights of citizenship out his alleged plan. Some historians authority for Jewish religious and were extended to Jews. Still, respect believe that Napoleon intended the community life, a system which he and rights were conditioned on the proclamation only for propaganda repeated in many other lands which willingness of Jews to abandon their and to build support for his campaign fell under his power. age-old customs and their communal among the Jews in the Holy Land. On closer inspection, things may not identity. This was the meaning of the Others think that the newspaper have been quite as wonderful for the slogan “To the Jews as individuals, was reporting a rumour, as there is Jewish community. The Consistoire everything, to the Jews as a people, no documentation that Napoleon Israelite in France consisted of three nothing.” contemplated such a policy. rabbis and two lay individuals. In During Napoleon's siege of Akko Nevertheless, Rabbi Aharon Ben- charge of the Consistoire Israelite (and (Acre), Israel in 1799, Le Moniteur Levi of Jerusalem seems to have added the consistory system in general) was a Universel, the main French newspaper his voice to the proclamation, calling 25-member board, all Jews, who were during the French Revolution, published on the Jews to enlist in Napoleon's appointed by the (state-appointed) on 22nd May 1799 a short statement army "to return to Zion as in the days Prefect, which allowed the French that, translated into English, said: of Ezra and Nechemia" and rebuild the government to manage and regulate "Bonaparte has published a Temple. Perhaps Napoleon had the idea the system of consistories and, in turn, proclamation in which he invites all to establish a national home for the various aspects of Jewish life. When the Jews of Asia and Africa to gather Jews in the Land of Israel and that the Napoleon was finally defeated, most of under his flag in order to re-establish Jews would repay the favour by serving Europe slid back into its old, antisemitic the ancient Jerusalem. He has already French interests in the region. However, ways. given arms to a great number, and their after he returned to France, it would So, was Napoleon good for the battalions threaten ."1 appear that all he was interested in Jews? After 200 years, the jury is Of course, Napoleon's forces lost when it came to the Jews was how still out.

1 Napoléon et les Juifs In memory of Shmuel Nissim ben Yaacov z"l

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 23:33-44 On Succot we bring the four species (arba’a minim) and dwell followed by Shemini Atzeret. On the first day of Succot and on in temporary booths (succot). The seven days of Succot are Shemini Atzeret, we refrain from melacha. Eli Cohen (1924-65) by Rabbi Michael Laitner, Director of Education for the United Synagogue and Assistant Rabbi at Finchley Synagogue

“Eli Cohen’s acts and the information that he gathered before the Six-Day War were intelligence worth their weight in pure gold...” Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol (1895-1969)1

Eli Cohen is well reader is referred to Rabbi Rambam (1138-1204, known as one of the Goren’s article to study Maimonides) to Rabbi ’s most heroic this question in depth, or Ovadia the Ger, in which and successful agents, an excellent summarising the Rambam rules that whose remarkable accomplishments essay in English by Rabbi Islam is not considered were pivotal to the successful Aviad Tabory 2 soon to be idolatrous and, as such, defence of Israel’s border with , published in book form by a Jew need not martyr particularly during the Six-Day War Maggid Books. themselves if threatened of 1967. Rabbi Yosef Caro (1488- with death should they Born in Egypt, Cohen assumed 1575) in his Shulchan deny fealty to Islam. a false identity as a Syrian Muslim Aruch (Code of Jewish Law, Yoreh Accordingly, an Israeli Jewish agent named Kamel Amin Thaabet and Deah 157:2) rules that a person may such as Eli Cohen was permitted to infiltrated the highest echelons of the not deny their Judaism and claim take on an Islamic lifestyle given the Syrian military establishment from adherence to idolatry in order to severity and dangers of his mission. 1961 until his capture in January 1965. escape death, but may alter their Elsewhere in his article, Rabbi He was publicly hanged in appearance and behaviour to disguise Goren quotes the Talmudic discussion on 18 May 1965, corresponding to their Judaism. (Nazir 23b) of the heroic actions of Yael 16 Iyar 5725 in the Jewish calendar, Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Krakow to thwart the Canaanite general Sisera which was 56 years ago this week. (1530-72, known by the acronym who was threatening the Jewish Agonisingly, his remains have still not Rema), who wrote notes to the people (see Sefer Shofetim, the been returned to Israel. Shulchan Aruch when Ashkenazi book of Judges, chs. 4 and 5). Yael’s The planning of Eli Cohen’s practice differed from the rulings of actions are classified by Rabbi Goren assignment highlighted a fascinating Rabbi Caro, ruled that in times of as pikuach nefesh (life-saving activity) halachic question: to what extent great danger, it is permitted to trick an on behalf of the whole nation, not just can a Jewish agent suppress their adversary into believing that the Jew an individual. This provides, in Rabbi Judaism and live as if a non-Jew? is actually an idolator (ibid). Goren’s view, further support for living Rabbi Shlomo Goren (1917-94), the A basis for this is the well-known as an undercover agent should the first Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defence ruling of the Talmud (Sanhedrin 74a) mission be one which aims to thwart Forces (IDF), who would later serve that a Jew may not embrace idolatry mortal threats against the Jewish as Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, even in order to save their life. people. addressed this question in an essay Given this, may a person put Our abiding gratitude goes to all published most recently in Mishnat themselves into a situation of such those who take such risks to protect Hamedina (p. 140), a posthumous danger, as Eli Cohen and many other the Jewish people and the State collection of his essays collated agents have done, to fulfil their of Israel. May God bless them and in 1999. We shall summarise his missions? continue to shelter the soul of Eli conclusions here; the interested Rabbi Goren quotes the letter of Cohen.

1 Cited in www.jpost.com/opinion/eli-cohen-the-spy-who-was-larger-than-life-627326, accessed April 2021 2 https://www.etzion.org.il/en/shiur-05-18-may-1965-%E2%80%9Cour-man-damascus%E2%80%9D-eli-cohen-israel%E2%80%99s-greatest-spy In memory of David Yochanan ben Moshe z"l Sefer Shofetim (the Book of Judges) Chapter 18: Idolatry in the Tribe of Dan by Pnina Savery, US Jewish Living Educator

Like the previous chapter, armed men journeyed to wage war mistakenly intended to use them in the this chapter begins with on the city. They were so confident of service of God. the phrase “In those success that they travelled with all At the end of the chapter, the days there was no king their women, children and possessions identity of the Levite priest is revealed: in Israel”. This is to remind us of the (18:21). “Yonatan ben Gershom ben Menashe” reason that the Jewish people were in On the way, they went to Michah’s (18:30). The letter “nun” of the name a state of chaos. The text then explains house and seized the idols and ephod Menashe is written raised above the that the tribe of Dan was still looking for themselves. The Levite priest other letters in the text. Without the for their portion of land. The biblical attempted to challenge them, but they nun, the word reads “Moshe”. Rashi commentator Malbim (1809-1879) silenced him and demanded that he go explains that this is because he was states that the local Canaanites did not with them, saying that it was better to Moshe’s grandson. The name is written allow them to settle comfortably in the be the priest of a whole tribe than the differently out of respect for Moshe, to land originally apportioned to them. priest of one man. The Da’at Sofrim distance him from this idolatrous priest. Five men from Dan were sent to spy out commentary, written by Rabbi Chaim This links back to the concept the land, to find somewhere to conquer. Dov Rabinowitz (1909-2001), explains discussed in our last chapter: the They came to the house of Michah that in their new territory they would effect of our environment. It is and stayed there overnight. They be far from the Mishkan in Shiloh and shocking that a grandson of Moshe, questioned the Levite priest about the they wanted to establish their own the greatest leader in the history of idolatrous practices they saw taking local sanctuary in which to worship. the Jewish people, could become place there. They did not, however, Michah pursued the tribe of involved in idolatry. We saw in criticise the idolatry itself. Instead, Dan, hoping to retrieve his idols, Chapter 17 that initially he resisted, they asked the priest to inquire of God but they threatened to kill him and but he slowly became influenced if they would be successful in their his household, so he retreated. The by his environment. Ultimately he mission, indicating their acceptance of Danites fought and defeated the people became the priest of idolatry for the these sins. of Layish and burned down the city. The whole tribe of Dan. The Danite spies travelled to French biblical commentator, Radak The story of Chapters 17-18 ends Layish and saw that it could be easily (1160-1235), states they burned the here, with a note that this house of conquered. They travelled back home city to rid it of idolatry. They may have idolatry remained in the tribe of Dan and reported to their tribe that they had brought Michah’s idols with them, but until the exile of the northern ten found a place to conquer. Six hundred they thought this was different. They tribes.

In memory of Harav Yisrael ben Eliyahu z"l

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 24:1-23 Point to Consider: Who was the father of the blasphemer? Moshe is told by God to instruct the people to bring pure olive (see Rashi to 24:10) oil for the daily Menorah lighting in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Moshe is commanded to provide flour for the showbread Haftarah (lechem hapanim) that is placed on the table (shulchan) The prophet Yechezkel (Ezekiel) details the halachot which will and remains there for an entire week. A man is caught pertain to Kohanim in Messianic times. Some of these laws blaspheming and is sentenced and put to death. are more stringent than those listed in the sidra.