MAKING A CONNECTION

Parashat Emor
Iyar 19, 5781 /April 30 – May 1, 2021
Torah: Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23
Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31
 
Candle-lighting: 7:18 PM (PT)
 
Our Refuah Shleimah/Prayer for Healing List can be found at: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iT0tdp45ITSU6o1tykah41m3IXBxBwLxe8FORSIXzDo/edit?usp=sharing 
 
If you would like to have a name added or removed from this Refuah Shleimah/Prayer for Healing list, please write to me at: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 
 
This week's Yahrzeit List can be found at: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IvKK6of7m1YFiwWATXCfQXrBrjmLMfS_CAM3WhZ_fu4/edit?usp=sharing  
 
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More info about our services and programs is below this d'var torah. And even more info about our community is available at our website: 

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Please feel free to pass this on, and please cite the source.
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MAKING A CONNECTION
 
“And you shall not eat bread, or parched grain, or fresh kernels until the very day that you have brought the (omer) offering for your God; it is an eternal decree for all your generations, in all your dwelling places." Leviticus 23:14
 
"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not completely reap all the way to the corners (pe’ah) of your field, and you shall not gather the gleanings (leket) of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger; I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 23:22
 
The Torah states at verse 14 that new grain, i.e., grain from the fresh crop, may not be eaten until the omer (a measure of barley) offering has been brought on the second day of Pesach, or, these days, until the time for making the offering has passed. And at verse 22, the Torah commands us concerning the harvests of our fields.
 
These commandments might seem pointless. How many of us have the direct connection with the land that is required for fulfilling the mitzvot of omer, pe’ah and leket? When we buy bread in a bakery, how do we know what crop the grain came from? How many of us have fields of grain?
 
There is a way to combine these commandments in a modern and meaningful way that allows us to fulfill them in spirit. True, we no longer make sacrificial offerings directly to God. And I suspect that there are very few farmers reading this. However, there are many poor and hungry people in our society. Before we eat, we are obligated to consider them, and do what we can to feed them as well.

I suggest that we should be offering grain (and other foods) to other people, who are, after all, created in God's likeness. The food comes from our pantries rather than our fields. We do the gleaning; they do the eating. I am sure that there are very few people reading this who cannot spare at least a few cans of food for those with nothing to eat at all. Why should we do this? Hosea (6:6) quotes God as telling us, "For it is loving-kindness I desire – not sacrifice." Further, we read just last Shabbat, “… And you shall love your fellow, who is just like you…” Leviticus 19:18
 
Gather up some cans or boxes of non-perishable food (no glass) and some unopened toiletries (hotel amenities are great for this!) and take them to the local food pantry, such as SOVA or BTAC. Better still, and more safely in these pandemic times, make a secure monetary donation on-line to SOVA, BTAC, MAZON, or any other agency that feeds the poor. (Links are below)
 
It's a wonderful way for you and your (our) children to carry out the call that we made at the Pesach Seder just a few weeks ago - "Let all who are hungry come and eat!" Nor is there any reason to be selfish in this regard. After all, it’s not really ours to hoard. "For the land is Mine, and you are sojourners and residents with Me." (Lev. 25:23)  God created it; God owns it; we are only workers in God’s vineyard. Give a little! Make the connection with God, Nature and your fellow human beings!
 
Shabbat Shalom!
 
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
TBH/CBM
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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BTAC: http://www.burbanktemporaryaidcenter.org/ 

SOVA: https://www.jfsla.org/location/sova-valley/ 

MAZON: https://mazon.org/ 

Shabbat Evening Service with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom this Friday at 6:30 PM.
 
Shabbat Morning Service with Reb Jason and Rabbi Flom this Saturday at 10:00 AM.
 
All our services and programs are available at: 

https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim 
 
Downloadable and printable Siddur for Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat/Festival Ma'ariv, Shabbat/Festival Morning, and more, including the weekly Parashah and Haftarah, all available at: 

https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/form-download-e-siddur-0  Fill out the form - the download is free.
 
David Silon’s on-going class on Israel, now discussing Israeli agriculture and its contributions to the world, meets Sunday at 11:00 AM.
 
Join us every Tuesday at 12:30 PM for Lunch and Learn, a 60-90 minute study session. We're learning Hasidic and classic teachings on the weekly parashah.
 
Some excellent on-line Jewish resources are available at: 

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/ 
 
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