Emor Say — אֱמוֹר
Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23
Reading #3 - Leviticus 22:17–33
My Thoughts:
We are learning about animal sacrifice. Just as Hashem wants people to be unblemished who are serving in the Temple, so also does He want the animals as perfect as possible. The requirements are listed. But, think of this. If you have to give up a really good animal, worth more money than a “damaged” animal – wouldn’t this mean more to you? Which is harder for you to do, give $10 to your congregation or $1,000? Hashem requires our best and we should be willing to give it to Him! In all areas of our life!
Challenge:
Verse 31 reads, “...keep My commandments and do them…”. So, is keeping different then doing? To me, “keeping” means you are willing to obey what Hashem tells you to do. And of course, “doing” is actually following them. Here is the question – are you simply keeping the commandments or are you doing them also? I try to “keep” the Sabbath, but am I really doing all that it requires? Am I truly resting and not working, or am I “slipping” some tasks into my Sabbath day that I shouldn’t be? Time to reevaluate and take a hard look. He wants to “keep” and “do”. That’s really important to think about.
Leviticus 22:17 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘Whoever is of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners in Israel, who offers his offering, whether it is any of their vows or any of their free will offerings, which they offer to Hashem for a burnt offering: 19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But you shall not offer whatever has a defect, for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to Hashem to accomplish a vow, or for a free will offering of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted. It shall have no defect. 22 You shall not offer what is blind, is injured, is maimed, has a wart, is festering, or has a running sore to Hashem, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to Hashem. 23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any deformity or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a free will offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 You must not offer to Hashem that which has its testicles bruised, crushed, broken, or cut. You must not do this in your land. 25 You must not offer any of these as the bread of your Adonai from the hand of a foreigner, because their corruption is in them. There is a defect in them. They shall not be accepted for you.’”
26 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day on it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to Hashem. 28 Whether it is a cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day.
29 “When you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Hashem, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. 30 It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until the morning. I am Hashem.
31 “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and do them. I am Hashem.. 32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am Hashem who makes you holy, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Adonai. I am Hashem.”
