Emor 2022

May 14, 2022    Brittney Scott

Emor/”Speak!”, Leviticus 21:1-24:23, continues on with the “holiness code” started last week in Qedoshim.  However, these laws are specifically directed at the priests, yet with our understanding that Israel as a nation was intended to be and still is called to be a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6, 1Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6), then this holiness code should give further revelation regarding our interaction with Yahweh!  Especially since both in Exodus & 1 Peter being a kingdom of priests is directly connected with being a holy nation!  It’s no accident that the title Emor is also a cognate of the word omer, and this parshah is read in the season of the counting of the omer.  As this season leads to Shavuot, when Israel is to take on the mantle of kings and priests, presenting their selves as holy, perhaps this parshah becomes quite significant for the very times we are in!