Monday, May 7, 2012

Daily Aliya for Emor, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: This Aliya discusses bodily blemishes and ritual impurities which disqualify a Kohen from performing the Temple priestly duties. The Aliya then lays down the rules regarding who in the Kohen's household may eat teruma, the tithe from produce given to the Kohanim.

Interesting point from ou.org: If a non-kohen eats Teruma (food meant for the kohen) intentionally, he is liable to "death penalty from heaven". The punishment for eating Tevel (food not yet processed/split up) is the same. Perhaps we have here examples of the opposite types of sin. The former sin involves eating something "too sacred" for the individual. The latter is a sin that involves the opposite - the Tevel is so profane without any "mitzvot" separated, no sanctifying acts having been done with it. Going beyond halachic limits in either direction is equally sinful.

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