Saturday, September 24, 9707

emor notes

emor should be daber

the concept of chilul Hashem may well come from this parsha but on closer inspection
we see how the concept has changed over the years

it has become about honour. this is a bit of a mistake

et aviha he mechalelet seems to say the adulterous daughter of a cohen is
disrespecting him and destroying his reputation

what it really means, however, is that she is profaning him but what does profaning mean if not destroying his honour?

it means she is nullifying his holiness because his ability to maintain a position of holiness does, in part, depend on his family. he must marry only women who befit his status as a cohen, and his children must be proper

though it seems to be about honour and reputation it really is about holiness and the ability of human beings to sustain the presence of G-d in their midst.

the word chol means empty. chilul Hashem really means, losing the holiness of Hashem by not following the guidelines designed to keep Him near.