SPEAKING AND SAYING

Parashat Emor

13 Iyar 5776 / 20-21 May 2016

Torah: Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23
Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bethmeier.org

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SPEAKING AND SAYING

And the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, and say to them, 'None may be defiled for the dead among his people.'" Leviticus 21:1

Rashi, quoting B. Talmud Yevamot 114a: "Speak" and "say" - to admonish the big ones regarding the little ones.

Porachat Altah Nitzah: This is to warn leaders (literally, "those standing at the head of the people") to make themselves small, so that they do not step on the heads of this holy people, that they not be prideful and lord it over the people.

Our commentators see in the linguistic redundancy a hint at something more. Rebbe Elimelekh of Lizhensk is even more forceful. He suggests that the more powerful one is and the more one is known (or perhaps, believed) to be a tzaddik, a righteous person, the more scrupulous one needs to be about even the least significant commandment or character fault.

More and more frequently, it seems, we hear political leaders, captains of industry and other powerful figures in our society tell us we must "tighten our belts" even as they make excuses for their excesses (that necessitated the belt tightening!) and justify them as entitlements that come with their positions.

Lord Acton wrote: "Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." He might have been referring to this week's parashah - the unbridled exercise of power causes one to be defiled, one whose sacrifices (and good works) are thereby unacceptable to God, one whose soul can be irreparably damaged.

We need leaders - but we need leaders who know and respect their limits. How much more so as we in the United States go deeper into this year’s political season. Authority without responsibility is a license to do unmitigated damage. When will we ever "get it"?

Speak to our leaders, and say to them.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City, CA

Website: http://bethmeier.org

Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @DrahcirMolf

"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."

"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"

Yehuda Amichai

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Candlelighting: 7:33 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday: NO Religious School or Adult Ed at the synagogue, because …. We’re having a Lag Ba’Omer Religious School and Congregational Cook-out – at Beeman Park – 11:00 am. Everyone’s invited to this end of the school-year event. CBM providing the hot dogs (yes, including vegetarian), sides, snacks and drinks - You bring games, Frisbees, etc.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Thursday, 26 May: Lag Ba’Omer. Fire up the barbee!

Friday, 27 May: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, 28 May: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday, 29 May: NO Religious School – summer break. Sunday Adult Education also on hiatus unless by demand.

Monday, 30 May: Memorial Day. Raise Old Glory and Take a moment of silence to remember those who died in service to our country.

Next time you come to Beth Meier, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of Steven Kleiger z”l, whose yahrzeit falls on Tuesday, 16 Iyar. His memory is a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered in honor of Florence Levinson, celebrating her 90th birthday on Friday. May 27. Ad meah v’esrim! Mazal tov!

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Yaakov Rani Ben Margalit, Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Scott Beatty, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Stephanie Kane, Philip Kovac, Carolynne Lavoie-Schwartz, Suzanne Rosenthal (Sima Devorah bat Chanah), Deborah Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), and Beatrice Weide (Bayla bat Malkah).

Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.

My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call!

Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

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To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.