Parshas Emor (5767)

Bs”d

Parshas Emor (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

An extremely important factor in avodas Hashem is placing the various areas of serving Hashem in their proper place of priority.  All through the generations, down through today, so much disturbance and destruction was caused to Klal Yisroel due to distortion of true priorities.

The Medrash in our parsha quotes a Chazal  (26:2) that in the times of David HaMelech despite the fact that the youth were on an extremely high level of Torah knowledge and purity from transgressions, there were great casualties in battle since they were guilty of transgressing the issur of lashon hora; a lack of sensitivity towards humans in their environment, to the contrast of the generation of Achav that despite their being guilty of idol worship their sensitivity and care towards others brought victory.  This reflects the likewise amazing Chazal that Rashi brings that the dor haflaga, despite their rebelliousness and denying of Hashem were not destroyed and was the generation of the dor hamabul since they were on a high level of connection, consideration and care for others—what we call brotherly love.  To the contrast of the generation of Noach who were lacking this and they were destroyed.  This gives us a clear picture to the true priorities of what Hashem wants from us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.