Parshat Emor; Leviticus 21:1-24:23 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This week our parsha begins by addressing the Priesthood. The priests have an extraordinary duty to guard their holiness and purity and this week’s portion, Emor, begins by addressing this very idea. The priesthood who come into the sacred boundaries of the Sanctuary and offer the sacrifices, must according to this week’s portion be scrupulous in their attention to spiritual purity. And the High Priest himself, may not even come into contact with death through the death of his own parents. This is extraordinary in the boundaries that are used to protect the priest from any ritual impurity, the High Priest and ultimately the altar and sacrifices.

Also this parasha reinforces the idea that the priests who actually offer the sacrifices must be ‘defect’ free. No priest who is blind, lame or a limb too short or too long may offer the sacrifices. A priest who has any kind of physical impairment is disqualified not from the priesthood but from the specific duties regarding the sacrifices. These may be birth defects or the result of some kind of accident or disease but they do disqualify the priest from performing this part of the priestly function.

The torah equates priestly physical wholeness with priestly holiness and fitness to perform the most sacred functions at the altar—the sacrifices.

These ideals affect so much of our thinking today. Even though we no longer have a Temple, nor the priesthood to offer sacrifices this idea that those with disabilities are not able or capable of holiness, or leadership still infuses the thoughts of too many people. We look for photogenic leaders and the image of the perfect man or woman is reinforced in movies, television and print media. The perfect look seems to matter to too many people.

But this is truly ancient thinking.

As a rabbinic student more than 25 years ago, I had the privilege of working with developmentally disabled and physically disabled adults through the Chaverim program. For a year I worked to create Jewish holiday programs and opportunities for learning Jewish culture, traditions and Torah for these amazing and wonderful people. Four members of Chaverim- Daniella, Shainah, Elaine, Molly and Jordan all studied that year for their adult b’nai mitzvah. They savored each letter of the aleph – bet. They explored Shabbat observances that they had never done on their own before. It was such a moving experience to work and learn from them and see their real challenges and struggles and to experience the wonder and joy and true holiness in their lives. And when they led the Shabbat Service and sang and read from Torah—a true sense of kedusha—of holiness descended upon the room. There was a sense of wholeness and holiness that completely filled our prayer room and completely filled the hearts of all who attended. “God was surely in this place.”

For those families with someone who has some kind of special need—whether physical, emotional, or mental—they know that being a part of our Jewish community is important and precious. We in the rest of the Jewish community must come to know this as well and heed the words of the prophet, “My house shall be a house of prayer for all people.” Our Jewish community ought to be guided not by this passage in Leviticus that excludes from the ability to offer the sacrifices—but ought to be guided instead from the words of Genesis—that all were created B’tzelem Elohim. We must be an inclusive community—inclusive of those who see the world a little differently than others- whether because of autism, or bi-polar disease, whether because of physical limitation from birth or injury.
I learned from this experience that sometimes the best teachers are those who indeed have some kind of ‘defect’, physical challenge or spiritual challenge. Perhaps we ought to learn with them and from them and bring our Jewish community closer in holiness to that which is Eternal.

If you would like more information about Jewish Family Services, Chaverim program for developmentally disabled adults cal: (818) 464.3360. Or if you need assistance for your children with special needs including autism, learning disabilities and developmental disabilities Jewish Family Services also has HaMercaz which can provide support, resources and networking (323) 761-8800.

Posted by Aaron at May 5, 2008 10:03 AM