EMOR :
DVAR TORAH:
1) A major part of this week's Parsha is the setting of standards for Kohanim which apply specifically to them as a result of the lofty level that they are on. Included in that discussion is the prohibition for a Kohen who bears a blemish to offer Korbanos in the Beis Hamikdash. The Pasuk states:
"Kol Ish Asher-Bo Mum Mizerah Ahron Hakohen Lo Yigash L'Hakriv Es-Ishei H-shem; Mum Bo - Es Lechem E-lokav Lo Yigash L'Hakriv." - "Any man in whom there is a blemish from among the offspring of Ahron the Kohen shall not approach to offer the fire - offerings of H-shem; there is in him a blemish - the bread of his G-d he shall not approach to offer."
Q: The concept of Mum in general is a bit difficult to understand. Why is it fair that a Kohen with a physical defect cannot serve like the rest of them? Did he do something wrong? Is his deformity his fault? Furthermore the K'Sav Sofer asks why the Torah must repeat the same law twice, and why the lashon switches from "Bo Mum", to "Mum Bo".
A: The K'sav Sofer begins his answer by saying that Rashi says the idea of someone not offering a Korban to H-Shem when he bears a Mum comes from the fact that it is not fit or proper to come before a King looking deformed and disheveled, it is a tremendous lack of respect. The K'sav Sofer says this idea does not appeal to him, because H-Shem looks at what is in our heart, outside appearances are inconsequential to him. When H-Shem 'looks' at a member of Klal Yisroel, he sees his soul and innermost thoughts, not his body! Rather, says the K'sav Sofer, the reason that a Kohen with a Mum can't serve is because his external deformity is merely an illustration of a spiritual defect that H-Shem can see in his soul. Therefore the Pasuk repeats the rule twice, telling us that a Kohen can't serve if "Bo Mum", there is a Mum on him, because "Mum BO"! The outer blemish that the human eye sees is only a physical manifestation of the fact that his heart is blemished! An interesting hint to this brought in Divrei Yirmiyahu from Sefer Chaim Shel Torah is that the word "Mum" with its letters spelled out as individual words is "Mem Mem", "Vav Yud Vav", and "Mem Mem", symmetrical, showing that the inside reflects the outside.
2) In this weeks Parsha, the Torah commands us regarding the Yom Tov of Succos "V'Lakachtem Lachem Pri Etz Hadar". "And you shall take for yourselves the fruit of a tree of splendor", referring to the Esrog. The Baal haturim points out an interesting hint to this - the numerical value of the words "Pri Etz Hadar" equals 660, the same Gematria as the word "Esrogim".
STORY
It was Two O'Clock in the morning and Rav Zev Wolf of Zutomemir still could not sleep. He tossed and turned in his bed at the inn in Lublin, while the clock in the corner continued to tick loudly and relentlessly, keeping him up. The next morning, after a sleepless night, Rav Zev asked the innkeeper if that clock had once belonged to the Chozeh MiLublin. Stunned, the innkeeper replied in the affirmative and wondered aloud how his distinguished guest could possibly have known that information. Rav Wolf responded "A regular clock ticks away seconds, minutes, hours, symbolizing the passing time in our lives. When the Chozeh's clock ticks, it announces "It is one second closer to Moshiach!! It is one Minute closer to Moshiach!!..." I was so excited by it that i could not sleep!!
QUOTES
"After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box."
"Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it."
DVAR TORAH:
1) A major part of this week's Parsha is the setting of standards for Kohanim which apply specifically to them as a result of the lofty level that they are on. Included in that discussion is the prohibition for a Kohen who bears a blemish to offer Korbanos in the Beis Hamikdash. The Pasuk states:
"Kol Ish Asher-Bo Mum Mizerah Ahron Hakohen Lo Yigash L'Hakriv Es-Ishei H-shem; Mum Bo - Es Lechem E-lokav Lo Yigash L'Hakriv." - "Any man in whom there is a blemish from among the offspring of Ahron the Kohen shall not approach to offer the fire - offerings of H-shem; there is in him a blemish - the bread of his G-d he shall not approach to offer."
Q: The concept of Mum in general is a bit difficult to understand. Why is it fair that a Kohen with a physical defect cannot serve like the rest of them? Did he do something wrong? Is his deformity his fault? Furthermore the K'Sav Sofer asks why the Torah must repeat the same law twice, and why the lashon switches from "Bo Mum", to "Mum Bo".
A: The K'sav Sofer begins his answer by saying that Rashi says the idea of someone not offering a Korban to H-Shem when he bears a Mum comes from the fact that it is not fit or proper to come before a King looking deformed and disheveled, it is a tremendous lack of respect. The K'sav Sofer says this idea does not appeal to him, because H-Shem looks at what is in our heart, outside appearances are inconsequential to him. When H-Shem 'looks' at a member of Klal Yisroel, he sees his soul and innermost thoughts, not his body! Rather, says the K'sav Sofer, the reason that a Kohen with a Mum can't serve is because his external deformity is merely an illustration of a spiritual defect that H-Shem can see in his soul. Therefore the Pasuk repeats the rule twice, telling us that a Kohen can't serve if "Bo Mum", there is a Mum on him, because "Mum BO"! The outer blemish that the human eye sees is only a physical manifestation of the fact that his heart is blemished! An interesting hint to this brought in Divrei Yirmiyahu from Sefer Chaim Shel Torah is that the word "Mum" with its letters spelled out as individual words is "Mem Mem", "Vav Yud Vav", and "Mem Mem", symmetrical, showing that the inside reflects the outside.
2) In this weeks Parsha, the Torah commands us regarding the Yom Tov of Succos "V'Lakachtem Lachem Pri Etz Hadar". "And you shall take for yourselves the fruit of a tree of splendor", referring to the Esrog. The Baal haturim points out an interesting hint to this - the numerical value of the words "Pri Etz Hadar" equals 660, the same Gematria as the word "Esrogim".
STORY
It was Two O'Clock in the morning and Rav Zev Wolf of Zutomemir still could not sleep. He tossed and turned in his bed at the inn in Lublin, while the clock in the corner continued to tick loudly and relentlessly, keeping him up. The next morning, after a sleepless night, Rav Zev asked the innkeeper if that clock had once belonged to the Chozeh MiLublin. Stunned, the innkeeper replied in the affirmative and wondered aloud how his distinguished guest could possibly have known that information. Rav Wolf responded "A regular clock ticks away seconds, minutes, hours, symbolizing the passing time in our lives. When the Chozeh's clock ticks, it announces "It is one second closer to Moshiach!! It is one Minute closer to Moshiach!!..." I was so excited by it that i could not sleep!!
QUOTES
"After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box."
"Who aims at excellence will be above mediocrity; who aims at mediocrity will be far short of it."