Thursday, April 29, 2021

Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Emor

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts on the parsha that R' Frand spoke about in his shiur tonight. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

In Vayikra 21:12 the Torah states וּמִן־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ לֹ֣א יֵצֵ֔א - that the Kohain Gadol should not leave the Beis HaMikdash. R' Frand quoted the Rambam in Hilchos Klei HaMikdash who writes that the Kohain Gadol had a room in the Beis HaMikdash which was established for his honor and glory as he would stay in the Bais HaMikdash for up to 20 hours at a time. Furthermore, even when he was not in the Bais HaMikdash, he was required to live in Jerusalem.

R' Frand quoted R' Chaim Shmulevitz who connected this with the story of Shimi Ben Gera. When Dovid HaMelech was about to die, he instructed Shlomo on how to "take care" of Shimi for cursing him. The instruction was not to simply kill him, but use your wisdom to do so. Implementing his father's instruction, Shlomo instructed Shimi to build a house in Jerusalem, but you cannot leave it. And on the day that you leave it and pass Nachal Kidron, you will be killed as one who rebels against the king. Shimi swore that he would obey.

Shimi stayed in Jerusalem for three years, but then when his slaves ran away, Shimi chased after them and left Jerusalem. The word got back to Shlomo and he reminded Shimi of his swear and then had him executed. 

The question that R' Chaim asked was - there are many people who live in Jerusalem today who have never left. Its one of the nicest places in the world to live, so why did he leave? Couldn't he have sent someone else to chase down the slaves?

R' Chaim answered that people can stay in one place, as long as they are not required to stay. But if a person is instructed that he can't leave, then he is itching to go.

R' Frand quoted R' Shimshon Pincus who asked - why does the Kohain Gadol not have this problem? Why is he also not itching to leave? He answered that the Kohain Gadol is given this instruction as a badge of honor and the room in the Beis HaMikdash is a sign of prestige.

R' Frand compared this (l'havdil) to the President of the United States. He can't go shopping at Walmart if he wants to get out - he can send the Secret Service to get things for him.

If a person is required to stay because of his honored role, he does not fight it. But if he feels its a burden then he wants to leave.

R' Frand said that there is a take home lesson for us as parents. We give our children rules and they always ask - why am I different? The answer needs to be - because you are special and you have different rules.

R' Frand quoted R' Weinberg who told the story about how the Kohain's son was told he could not play ball with his friends when they were playing on a field next door to a graveyard. But why? Because the ball may wind up in the cemetery and you can't get it. You are special.

If we can convince our children that they are special, they won't feel restricted when told that they cannot do something.

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