Emor

:"For the EP by Les Savy Fav see "Rome (written upside down)"

Emor (אמור — Hebrew for "speak,” the fifth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parshah) is the 31st weekly Torah portion ("parshah") in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Leviticus. It constitutes ) They were not to shave any part of their heads or the side-growth of their beards or gash their flesh. ()

The High Priest was not to bare his head or rend his vestments. () No disabled priest could offer sacrifices. () A priest could not share his sacrificial meat with lay persons, persons whom the priest had hired, or the priest’s married daughters, but the priest could share that meat with his slaves and widowed or divorced daughters. ()
*Passover for 7 days beginning at twilight of the 14th day of the first month ()
*Yom Kippur on the 10th day of the seventh month () And God called for baking twelve loaves to be placed in the Tabernacle every Sabbath, and thereafter given to the priests, who were to eat them in the sacred precinct. () God told Moses to take the blasphemer outside the camp where all who heard him were to lay their hands upon his head, and the whole community was to stone him, and they did so. () One who killed a beast was to make restitution. ( was one of two sections in the Torah (along with and reported an interpretation that the language meant that adult Kohanim must warn their children away from becoming contaminated by contact with a corpse. But then the Gemara stated that the correct interpretation was that the language meant to warn adults to avoid contaminating the children through their own contact. (Babylonian Talmud Yevamot 114a.) And a Midrash explained the apparent redundancy by teaching that the first expression of “speak” was intended to intimate that a priest may defile himself on account of an unattended corpse ("met mitzvah"), while the second expression “say” was intended to intimate that he may not defile himself on account of any other corpse. (Leviticus Rabbah 26:8.)

The Gemara taught that where ) to teach that both could not defile themselves for the dead bodies of their relatives, could not let their hair grow wild in mourning, and could not rend their clothes as other Jews did in mourning. (Mishnah Horayot 3:4; Babylonian Talmud Horayot 11b.) The Mishnah taught that while an ordinary priest in mourning rent his garments from above, a High Priest rent his garments from below. And the Mishnah taught that on the day of a close relative’s death, the High Priest could still offer sacrifices but could not eat of the sacrificial meat, while under those circumstances an ordinary priest could neither offer sacrifices nor eat sacrificial meat. (Mishnah Horayot 3:5; Babylonian Talmud Horayot 12b.)

Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba cited in Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 50a–52a.

Interpreting the words “the priest that is highest among his brethren” in that arrogance constitutes a blemish. (Babylonian Talmud Megillah 29a.)

Leviticus chapter 22

The Mishnah reported that when a priest performed the service while unclean in violation of (Mishnah ; Tosefta Pisha 1:1–10:13; Jerusalem Talmud Pesachim 1a–; Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 2a–121b.)

Tractate Peah in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Jerusalem Talmud interpreted the laws of the harvest of the corners of fields in meant pecuniary compensation. Rabbi Simon ben Yohai asked those who would take the words literally how they would enforce equal justice where a blind man put out the eye of another man, or an amputee cut off the hand of another, or where a lame person broke the leg of another. The school of Rabbi Ishmael cited the words “so shall it be given to him” in said “eye for eye” and “life for life,” but not “life and eye for eye,” and it could sometimes happen that eye and life would be taken for an eye, as when the offender died while being blinded. Rav Papa said in the name of Raba that in the expression “he shall surely pay ox for ox.” As the latter case plainly indicated pecuniary compensation, so must the former. (Babylonian Talmud Bava Kamma 84a.)

Commandments

According to the Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are 24 positive and 39 negative commandments in the parshah:
*A Kohen must not defile himself for anyone except certain relatives. ()
*A Kohen must not marry a woman who had forbidden relations. ()
*To dedicate the Kohen for service ()
*The High Priest must marry a virgin. ()
*A Kohen with a physical blemish must not serve. ()
*Impure Kohanim must not do service in the Temple. ()
*A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen must not eat terumah. ()
*Not to eat produce from which the tithes have not been separated ()
*Not to wound dedicated animals ()
*Not to burn the fat of a blemished animal on the altar ()
*To offer only animals which are at least eight days old ()
*To sanctify God’s Name ()
*To offer the musaf offering all seven days of Passover ()
*To offer the wave offering from the meal of the new wheat ()
*Not to eat ripened grains from new grain before the omer ()
*To offer the musaf offering on Yom Kippur ()
*To rest on Rosh Hashanah ()
*To fast on Yom Kippur ()
*To rest from prohibited labor on Yom Kippur ()
*To offer the musaf offering all the days of Sukkot ()
*Not to do prohibited labor on Shmini Atzeret ()("Sefer HaHinnuch: The Book of [Mitzvah] Education". Translated by Charles Wengrov, 3:163–363. Jerusalem: Feldheim Pub., 1984. ISBN 0-87306-297-3.)

Haftarah

The haftarah for the parshah is Ezekiel [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1244.htm#15 44:15–31.]

Further reading

The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these sources:

Biblical

*Exodus [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0204.htm#10 4:10-11] (God makes people disabled); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#3 12:3–27,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#43 43–49] (Passover); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0213.htm#6 13:6–10] (Passover); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0221.htm#22 21:22–25] (eye for eye); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0223.htm#16 23:14–19] (three pilgrim festivals); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0223.htm#22 34:22–26] (three pilgrim festivals).
* (Yom Kippur); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0319.htm#9 19:9–10] (corners of fields).
*Numbers [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0409.htm 9:1–14] (Passover, inquiry of God on the law); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0415.htm#32 15:32–36] (inquiry of God on the law); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0427.htm 27:1–11] (inquiry of God on the law); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0428.htm#16 28:16–31] (Passover, Shavuot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0429.htm 29:1–39] (holidays).
*Deuteronomy [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0516.htm#13 16:1–17] (three pilgrim festivals); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0519.htm#15 19:15–21] (eye for eye); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0531.htm#10 31:10–13] (Sukkot).
*Judges [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0721.htm#19 21:19] (Sukkot).
*1 Kings [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt09a08.htm 8:1–66] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt09a12.htm#32 12:32] (northern feast like Sukkot).
*Ezekiel [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1245.htm#25 45:25] (Sukkot).
*Zechariah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2314.htm#16 14:16–19] (Sukkot).
*Psalms [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2615.htm 15:1–5] (who shall sojourn in God’s Tabernacle); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2661.htm#9 61:9] (performing vows); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2665.htm 65:2] (performing vows); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2674.htm#10 74:10–11,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2674.htm#18 18] (blasphemers); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2678.htm#4 78:4–7] (that succeeding generations may learn); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2681.htm#4 81:4] (proclaiming feast days); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a7.htm#22 107:22] (sacrifices of thanksgiving); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26b6.htm#17 116:17] (sacrifices of thanksgiving).
*Ezra [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35a03.htm#4 3:4] (Sukkot).
*Nehemiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35b08.htm 8:14–18] (Sukkot).
*2 Chronicles [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b05.htm 5:3–14] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b07.htm#8 7:8] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b08.htm#12 8:12–13] (three Pilgrim festivals).

Ancient

*Plato. "Laws" Greece, 4th Century B.C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Laws of Plato". Translated by Thomas L. Pangle, 145. New York: Basic Books, 1980. ISBN 0-465-03856-5. (priests sound of body).

Early nonrabbinic

*John [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=7&version=31 7:1-53] (Sukkot).

Classical rabbinic

*Mishnah: –8:9; Demai 1:1–7:8; Sheviit 2:1; Terumot 3:9, 6:6–7:4; Challah 1:1; Bikkurim 1:8; Pesachim 7:4; Yoma 7:1; Rosh Hashanah 1:9, 2:9; Megillah 3:5–6; Yevamot 2:4, 6:2–5, 7:1–8:2, 8:6, 9:2, 9:4–6, 10:3; Kiddushin 1:7, 1:9; Sanhedrin 2:1, 4:1, 6:1, 7:4–5, 9:1, 6; Makkot 3:8–9; Zevachim 9:5, 14:2; Menachot 2:2–3, 3:6, 4:2–3, 5:1, 5:3, 5:6–7, 6:2, 6:5–7, 8:1, 9:4, 10:1–11:2, 11:4–5, 11:9; Chullin 4:5, 5:5; Bekhorot 6:1–7:7; Keritot 1:1; Meilah 2:6; Parah 2:1. Land of Israel, circa 200 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Mishnah: A New Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 14–36, 41, 70, 100, 108, 148, 168, 242, 276, 301, 303, 321, 340, 352–54, 358, 360, 489, 585, 589, 593, 602, 604, 618, 720, 730, 735–36, 739–45, 748, 752, 755, 757, 774–75, 777, 800, 802, 836, 854, 1014. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-300-05022-4.
*Tosefta: Peah 1:1–4:21; Demai 1:28; Challah 2:7; Bikkurim 2:4; Shabbat 15:7, 17; Kippurim 1:6, 4:9; Sukkah 2:7, 3:1; Rosh Hashanah 2:10, 13; Megillah 3:5–6, 8; Yevamot 10:3, 5; Sanhedrin 4:1, 12:1; Makkot 5:4; Shevuot 1:6, 3:8; Eduyot 3:4; Shechitat Chullin 4:5; Menachot 7:7, 20, 10:26, 11:15; Bekhorot 2:3–4, 7–10, 17–19, 3:2, 6, 20, 24–25; 4:1–5:9; Temurah 1:10–11. Land of Israel, circa 300 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Tosefta: Translated from the Hebrew, with a New Introduction". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 1:47–76, 83, 339, 349, 414, 419, 542, 564, 572, 574, 613, 615, 645, 718; 2:1156, 1185, 1215, 1221, 1233, 1259, 1388, 1435, 1438, 1455, 1459. 1483, 1485, 1521. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 2002. ISBN 1-56563-642-2.
*Sifra 211:1–244:1. Land of Israel, 4th Century C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Sifra: An Analytical Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 3:161–290. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988. ISBN 1-55540-207-0.
*Jerusalem Talmud: Berakhot 4b, 57b, 75b; Peah 1a–73b; Sheviit 5b, 27b–28a, 83a. Land of Israel, circa 400 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Yerushalmi". Edited by Chaim Malinowitz, Yisroel Simcha Schorr, and Mordechai Marcus, vols. 1–3, 6a–b. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006.
*Leviticus Rabbah 7:2; 10:3; 24:6; 26:1–32:8. Land of Israel, 5th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Midrash Rabbah: Leviticus". Translated by H. Freedman and Maurice Simon, 4:92, 124, 309, 325–417. London: Soncino Press, 1939. ISBN 0-900689-38-2.
*Babylonian Talmud: Shabbat 65a; Eruvin 105a; Pesachim 72b, 75a; Rosh Hashanah 16b; Yoma 13b, 18a, 73a; Megillah 29a; Chagigah 13a, 14b; Mo’ed Katan 14b, 20a–b, 28b; Yevamot 5a, 6a, 15b, 20a–b, 22b, 24a, 37a, 44a, 52a, 55a–b, 56b, 58b–60a, 61a–b, 66a, 69a, 77b, 84a–85b, 86b, 87b, 88b, 89b, 90b–91a, 92a–b, 94a, 99b, 100b, 108a, 114a–b, 120a; Ketubot 14b, 26a, 29b–30a, 36b, 51b, 53a, 70a, 72b, 81a, 89b, 97b–98a, 100b–101b; Nedarim 10b, 62a; Nazir 38a, 40b–41a, 42b–44a, 47b–49a, 52b, 58a–b; Sotah 3a, 6a, 23b, 26b, 29a, 44a; Gittin 24b, 59b–60a, 82b; Kiddushin 10a, 13b, 18b, 35b–36a, 64a, 68a, 72b, 74b, 77a–78a; Bava Kamma 84a, 109b–110a, 114b; Bava Metzia 10b, 18a, 30a; Bava Batra 32a, 160b; Sanhedrin 4a, 5b, 18a–19a, 28b, 46a, 47a, 50a–52a, 53b, 66b, 69b, 76a, 83a–84a; Makkot 2a, 13a, 15a, 16a, 20a, 21a–b; Horayot 9a, 11b, 12b; Zevachim 13a, 15a–16a, 17a, 100a, 101b; Menachot 6a, 109a; Chullin 24a–b, 72a, 134b; Bekhorot 29a, 43a–45a, 56b; Temurah 5b, 29b; Keritot 7a; Niddah 8b, 69b. Babylonia, 6th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Bavli". Edited by Yisroel Simcha Schorr, Chaim Malinowitz, and Mordechai Marcus, 72 vols. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006.

Medieval

*Saadia Gaon. "The Book of Beliefs and Opinions", 3:1, 5; 5:1, 8. Baghdad, Babylonia, 933. Translated by Samuel Rosenblatt, 139, 154, 205, 234. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 1948. ISBN 0-300-04490-9.
*Rashi. "Commentary". [http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=9922&showrashi=true Leviticus 21–24.] Troyes, France, late 11th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., Rashi. "The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated". Translated and annotated by Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg, 3:261–315. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1994. ISBN 0-89906-028-5.
*Judah Halevi. "Kuzari". [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/khz/khz02.htm 2:20, 26, 50;] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/khz/khz03.htm 3:41, 46–47;] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/khz/khz06.htm Conclusion:27.] Toledo, Spain, 1130–1140. Reprinted in, e.g., Jehuda Halevi. "Kuzari: An Argument for the Faith of Israel." Intro. by Henry Slonimsky, 94, 102, 115, 173, 175, 295. New York: Schocken, 1964. ISBN 0-8052-0075-4.
*Maimonides. "Mishneh Torah", [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0003.htm Structure.] Cairo, Egypt, 1170–1180.
*Maimonides. "The Guide for the Perplexed", [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp074.htm 1:64;] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp153.htm 3:17,] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp177.htm 41,] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp179.htm 43,] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp182.htm 46,] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp183.htm 47,] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp184.htm 48,] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/gfp/gfp185.htm 49.] Cairo, Egypt, 1190. Reprinted in, e.g., Moses Maimonides. "The Guide for the Perplexed". Translated by Michael Friedländer, 96, 287, 344, 346, 353, 360, 369, 371, 379. New York: Dover Publications, 1956. ISBN 0-486-20351-4.
*Zohar 1:65a, 112a, 166b, 181a; 2:39b, 40b, 95a, 101a, 108b, 121b, 129b, 133a, 153b, 183a–b, 215a, 216b, 231a, 237a; 3:7a, 67a, 69b, 73b, [http://www.kabbalah.com/k/index.php/p=zohar/zohar&vol=34 88a–107b.] Spain, late 13th Century. Reprinted in, e.g, "The Zohar". Translated by Harry Sperling and Maurice Simon. 5 vols. London: Soncino Press, 1934.

Modern

*Thomas Hobbes. "Leviathan", England, 1651. Reprint edited by C. B. Macpherson, 503–04, 572. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Classics, 1982. ISBN 0140431950.
*Louis Ginzberg. "Legends of the Jews", [http://philologos.org/__eb-lotj/vol3/p06.htm#THE%20BLASPHEMER%20AND%20THE%20SABBATH-BREAKER 3:238–42.] Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1911.
*Thomas Mann. "Joseph and His Brothers". Translated by John E. Woods, 131–32. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 1-4000-4001-9. Originally published as "Joseph und seine Brüder". Stockholm: Bermann-Fischer Verlag, 1943.
*Jacob Milgrom. "Leviticus 17–22", 3A:1791–1892. New York: Anchor Bible, 2000. ISBN 0-385-41255-X.
*Jacob Milgrom. "Leviticus 23–27", 3B:1947–2145. New York: Anchor Bible, 2000. ISBN 0-385-50035-1.
*Judith Z. Abrams. “Misconceptions About Disabilities in the Hebrew Bible.” In "Jewish Perspectives on Theology and the Human Experience of Disability". Edited by Judith Z. Abrams & William C. Gaventa, 73–84. Binghamton, N.Y.: Haworth Pastoral Press, 2006. ISBN 0-7890-3444-1.

External links

* [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0321.htm Masoretic text and 1917 JPS translation]
* [http://Bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=3&chapter=21&verse=1&portion=31 Hear the parshah chanted]