Parshas Emor
A Taste of Torah
Exceptionally Pure
by Rabbi Aharon Wilen
The Talmud (Kesubos 103b) relates
that the day that the author of the
Mishna, Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi,
died, kedusha (holiness) ceased.
The basic meaning of this is that
Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, affectionately
known as Rebbe, was known for
his outstanding holiness and had
achieved a level of sanctity that was
unmatched in his era; this type of
holiness ended upon his passing.
Tosafos (ibid. s. v. oso) offers an
alternate explanation based on the
Jerusalem Talmud. The Jerusalem
Talmud says on the day Rebbe died,
there was no kehuna, no priesthood.
Tosafos explain that generally,
kohanim (priests) are forbidden to
come into contact with a dead body
other than that of their immediate
family and a meis mitzvah (a body
that has nobody to bury it), as
discussed at the beginning of this
week’s parsha. This precludes
kohanim from actively participating
in other funerals, as they cannot be
part of the burial process. However,
it was permitted for kohanim to fully
participate in Rebbe’s funeral and
burial, even though such activity is
normally forbidden.
This is rather perplexing. Why
should there be any exceptions to
this prohibition?
Although the rules of tumah, spiritual
impurity, are a chok, a mitzvah whose
meaning is not readily apparent,
a basic insight into these rules can
help us understand this exception.
The Sefer Hachinuch (Mitzvah
263) explains that the prohibition
May 8, 2020
Stories for the Soul
Performance Enhancer
Rabbi Naftali Amsterdam (1832-
for kohanim to contract tumah from 1916) was one of the prime disciples
a dead body is because a person is of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, the
comprised of both a body and a founder of the mussar movement,
soul. On one side is the soul that has which placed a great focus on
aspirations for spiritual greatness. improving ones character. Rabbi
On the other side is the body, whose Amsterdam served as rabbi of a
search for physical fulfillment leads number of communities across
the person to all types of evil. After Europe during his lifetime, and he
death, when a person’s soul has eventually settled in Eretz Yisrael
left, all that remains is the physical later in life. Throughout his career,
shell, the body, the cause of all of he strove to study mussar and to
the person’s sins and shortcomings. impart its lessons, as he had been
This is why the Torah deems a taught by his great teacher.
human corpse impure, as one
Someone once found a written
should recognize that something
statement in Rabbi Amsterdam’s
which causes sin is repulsive.
bag expressing his commitment to
The kohanim, whose job it is to helping all Jews return to the path
perform the service in the Bais of Torah observance.
Hamikdash (Temple), are consecrated Upon being how he planned to
to the service of Hashem. As His carry out this bold resolution,
servants, it is not befitting that they asked Rabbi Amsterdam replied,
come into contact with anything “I have resolved to keep all of the
that represents sin. Therefore, they laws of the Shulchan Aruch (Code
are forbidden to come into contact of Jewish Law) strictly. In this way,
with a human corpse.
I will serve as a living Shulchan
Based on this, the Sefer Hachinuch Aruch, and anyone who wants to
explains the story of the death of keep the Torah will be able to see
Rebbe. The Talmud (Kesubos 104a) in me a living example of one who
relates that on his deathbed, Rebbe follows Hashem’s ways and will
held up his hands and said, “Master learn from me how to return to
of the Universe, it is clear and Torah.”
known to You that I toiled in Torah In this week’s parsha we are
with all my ten fingers, and I did not commanded to sanctify Hashem’s
derive benefit even with my smallest Name among the Jewish
finger.” Rebbe was so dedicated to People. Oftentimes, the greatest
his efforts in Torah study that his sanctification of Hashem’s Name
body did not derive any unnecessary is to live perfectly in accordance
pleasure from this world. Rebbe’s with His commandments, thus
body was never used improperly; modeling and inspiring others to
it served solely as a vehicle for his emulate such an approach to life.
service of Hashem, and never did his
continued on back
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The six items below can be found in Rashi’s commentary to this week’s
KOLLEL CLASSES CONTINUE parsha. Can you figure out where they are? (Answers on bottom)
VIA ZOOM MEETING 1) Warn the kids 4) Barley doesn’t count
2) Cataract 5) Tasty wood
The Kollel is continuing many
3) Only a limb 6) Camping ban
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schedule and the links and Some sources say that his parents under Spanish rule during most of
phone numbers to access went to Madeira Island, an island off the 16th century, but the Jews living
this treasure trove of Torah, the coast of Portugal where they felt there were able to practice Judaism.
visit www.denverkollel.org it was safer despite its being under From 1566-1648, the Netherland
or email info@denverkollel. Portuguese rule. These sources say fought the Eighty Years’ War to gain
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Island. the Dutch republic was officially
THE BIG PICTURE Other sources indicate that the formed, and this should have enabled
Join a multi-part series of family made their way to La Rochelle the Jews there to formally receive
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The Big Picture of a section that the family first went to Madeira was only in 1603 that the first license
of Torah. Choose from an Island and later made their way to La was granted for a public religious
array of different Torah Rochelle. gathering. In 1639, three major
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Classes run through 5/28. the Netherlands in 1610, settling in merged into one untied Sephardic
An initiative of the Denver Amsterdam. Amsterdam became congregation.
Community Kollel in a haven for Sephardic Jews fleeing The Jews brought economic growth
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the Rockies and JOI. Visit Sephardic Jews settled there and, over helped make Amsterdam a major
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the future of Torah in
Denver! The Kollel is in the body lead him to sin. A body such as We may not be able to make Rebbe’s
midst of a capital campaign this is not a thing to be avoided, and claim of having never benefitted
to build a three-story, state- so when Rebbe’s soul left, the body from any pleasures of this world, but
of-the-art Torah Center that it left behind did not conform to the we can certainly seek to minimize
will serve the entire Denver regular rules of spiritual impurity, the pull of our physical drives and
Jewish community. To it was therefore permitted even for move away from the impurity of the
contribute, or for dedication kohanim to participate in his burial. blandishments of this world.
opportunities and details 3) Camping ban 24:10 s.v. vayetzei 3) Only a limb 22:25 s.v. umiyad
on the building, visit 2) Tasty wood 23:40 s.v. pri 2) Cataract 21:20 s.v. oh dak
denverkollel.org or email 1) Barley doesn’t count 23:16 s.v. mincha 1) Warn the kids 21:1 s.v. emor

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