Parshas Emor 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- May 14
- 2 min read
ולא תחללו את שם קדשי ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל אני ה' מקדשכם ... (כב-לב)
After enumerating various laws pertaining to the kohanim and korbanos, the Torah inserts a command to sanctify Hashem’s Name. What is this mitzvah doing here? What is the connection between this mitzvah and the laws of kohanim and korbanos?
Perhaps we may explain as follows. When we speak of Kiddush Hashem, of mesiras nefesh to do Hashem’s will, it brings to mind the cry of Moshe Rabbeinu, after seeing the devastation caused by the eigel: "מי לה' אלי"! “Whoever is for Hashem - to me!” Shevet Levi rallied around him and with great personal sacrifice, executed all those involved in the eigel. When Hashem saw them gathering to sanctify His Name, He declared that these are the ones most loyal to Me, and they are the ones whom I want to serve Me! And He thus awarded the kohanim, who came from Shevet Levi, the rights to do the avodah of the korbanos.
Perhaps this is why the Torah speaks about the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem here. Having just concluded its discussion of the laws pertaining to kohanim and a whole host of halachos regarding the korbanos, the Torah wants to make note of the special quality through which the kohanim merited to all these special laws and which grant them the right to bring the korbanos – mesiras nefesh, the fierce devotion and loyalty to Hashem, through thick and thin.
The Gaon, R’ Meir Soloveitchik zt”l, would relate how the heilige Chafetz Chaim zt”l once asked a visitor who came to him, “Do you know why I am a Kohen, and I am allowed to do the avodah on the mizbeach and duchen, but you are not?”
The poor fellow did not know what to answer, so the Chafetz Chaim explained: “I will tell you the reason. After the eigel, when Moshe Rabbeinu called out 'מי לה' אלי', my zeide ran to his side, while your zeide did not! You should know,” he continued, “when Mashiach will come, there will be another call of 'מי לה' אלי' and at that time, one must focus and act immediately! He must not remain standing on the side!” May we be takeh zocheh to heed the call b’karov, בב"א!