Haftorah Beam - Emor

The haftorah reading for this parsha is not as problematic as the Torah reading which I discussed last year, and echoes the theme of priestly obligations.  They are subject to more rules than the general population in matters of dress, diet, marriage and so on.  Rather than being more privileged, as you would expect of the priestly class they are more restricted.  This is summed up thus:

כח  וְהָיְתָה לָהֶם לְנַחֲלָה, אֲנִי נַחֲלָתָם; וַאֲחֻזָּה, לֹא-תִתְּנוּ לָהֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל--אֲנִי, אֲחֻזָּתָם.

28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

The additional restrictions and obligations are seen as a prized value, representing G*d's will through them. The verse goes further to remind the reader that the Levites had no portion in the Land of Israel, but instead lived among the other tribes.  This, too, is a reminder that their portion of divinity trumps worldly possessions.  This is parallel to Jewish "Chosenness".  We are Chosen, yes -- for additional restrictions, for prolonged exile among the nations, and for bearing the brunt of persecution throughout the ages. But we bear these difficulties as a badge of honor, a symbol of our special relationship with our Creator.

This contrast is echoed again in this week's observances:  Just a week after the Festival of Freedom (Passover), we commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day;  a week after that (yesterday), we remembered the fallen soldiers in Israel's wars for its national survival; and today we return to the spirit of joy with Israeli Independence Day.  Our joy and our freedom are inextricably linked to our struggles, both in the past and in the current generation.

This is how Memorial Day is observed in Israel.

Haftorah Beam - Achrei Mot / Shabbat Hagadol

Last year, this was the first part of a double parsha, and we were reading the second half, so we missed the Torah reading.  This year, it was the Shabbat before Pesach (Passover) so we have a special Haftorah reading, so we miss the usual Haftorah reading.  Oh well.

Reading this special Haftorah (Shabbat Hagadol) actually made me a bit sentimental! Last year, my daughter chanted this haftorah at her Bat Mitzvah, although her Torah reading was different.  The reading anticipates the redemption of the Exodus which is commemorated in the Passover Hagadah by challenging us to cling on to our faith and ethics even when it seems that these don't really pay off.  We see others literally getting away with murder, we see our convictions challenged every day.  Why do it all?  The prophet assures us that not only will the redemption come one day that will make it all worth while, but that doing the right thing is in fact its own reward.

¹⁷ And on the day that I am preparing, said the Lord of Hosts, they shall be My treasured possession; I will be tender toward them as a man is tender toward a son who ministers to him. ¹⁸ And you shall come to see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who has served the Lord and him who has not served Him....²³ Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the Lord. ²⁴ He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction.

Happy Passover!

I am so behind, I have 2 Haftorah Beam posts to make up, and a long post about adolescence in the works. Can I blame spring cleaning for at least part of my slacking?  But we had a lovely Passover Seder last night, my 2 youngest singing Mah Nishtanah, my 5-year-old very seriously participating in the reading, and the guests leaving full and (apparently) happy.

Edited to add: Woo hoo! This is my 400th published post!!!