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Vol 7.18 - Emor 1                           Spanish French Audio  Video

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Page 147   Page148   Page149   Page150   Page151   Page152  

Summary:
(5729) Explanation of the necessity of the Talmud (Yebamot 114a) to stress that the maxim: "to admonish the adult Kohanim to be responsible for the minors" applies to the Tumah of Kohanim, Sheratzim (crawling creatures) and blood. According to Chassidut

 

Synopsis:

At the beginning of the Torah portion Emor, where the Torah teaches that a kohen is not permitted to defile himself, the verse states,1 “Speak to the Kohanim … and say to them.” The Gemara explains2 that the two expressions “speak” and “say” teach us that older individuals are not permitted to defile and give prohibited things to minors.

The reason why older individuals are not permitted to do so is because there exists some relationship between those who are older and those who are minors, otherwise the Torah would not command them concerning individuals with whom they have absolutely no connection.

The following question arises: These minors include even those who are so young that they are not capable of rational thought at all.3 What possible connection is there then between these mature adults and these infants, for which reason the older people are forewarned regarding the infants?

In point of fact, a very great and intrinsic connection does indeed exist between the two — the quintessential aspect of their Judaism,4 something in which all Jews are entirely equal.

One can draw an analogy to many matters of holiness from the physical. Here, too, we find something similar to the above with regard to the aspect of human life — regarding the essential aspect of being alive, there exists no difference between an adult and a child.

The difference that exists between them only applies to the degree of manifestation of the life-force within the individual, its degree of revelation. How we see a manifest difference between an adult and a child. For this revealed degree of life-force clothes itself in a more internal fashion according to the body that it animates. This difference between degrees of revealed manifestation also applies to the amount of revealed life vested within the individual limbs and organs within the person himself.

However, the essential aspect of life, that which is not delineated by the body it enlivens, is the same within all individuals. Just as it is incorrect to state that one bodily organ is essentially more alive than another, so, too, with regard to one person being intrinsically more alive than the next.5

And just as this is so with regard to physical life in general, so too with regard to the life of the G‑dly soul of each and every Jew, the soul responsible for the Jews’ Jewishness: The differences that exist between one Jew and the other are merely differences that apply to their revealed senses and powers; the essential aspect of Judaism, however, is the same in all.

According to the above, we will also understand why the exhortation regarding the responsibility of the adults for the children is stated in the following fashion: “To warn — lihazhir — the adults about the minors.” Logically, it would have made more sense for our Sages to state, “It is forbidden for the adults…”:

When adults are not separate entities unto themselves, but rather devote themselves to the young ones as well, providing them will all their physical and spiritual needs, this will, in turn, provide an additional measure of growth and elevation within the adults as well.

As long as the adults are removed from others and are comfortable in their previously attained position, then, notwithstanding the fact that the Torah recognizes them as adults and persons who have achieved a marked degree of maturity, nevertheless, their maturity is quite limited — it only extends to the degree of the development of their revealed powers and potential.

However, when they leave their comfortable mode of existence and devote themselves to minors, those who are on a lesser level than themselves, they are then blessed with the revelation of their essence — that degree which is the same in all Jews, adults and minors, and which is altogether loftier than their revealed soul powers.

This is why the term “to warn — lihazhir” is used, for the Hebrew word lihazhir means not only to warn but also to shine and illuminate.6 By devoting themselves to the young ones, the adults are infused with an infinitely greater measure of Divine illumination.

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2526817/jewish/Chassidic-Dimension-Volume-4-Emor.htm

FOOTNOTES
1.    Vayikra 21:1.
2.    Yevamos 114a.
3.    Shulchan Aruch Admur HaZakein, Orach Chayim, 343:5.
4.    See Shulchan Aruch, Hilchos Shabbos, ch. 330. See also Tanya ch. 32.
5.    See Ki Imcha 5700, ch. 4; Chayov Inish 5708, ch. 9, et al. See also Yoma 80b.
6.    Zeh HaYom 5708, ch. 2. See also Iggeres HaKodesh, conclusion of Epistle 7; Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IV, p. 1193.

 


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