Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

In this week's parasha, Emor (Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23), we learn about the special social rules that applied to Aaron and his sons (and all of the priests who would follow them). They could not do just anything they wanted; they couldn't marry any one they wanted, and their families even had to live by special rules. If dad was a priest, everyone lived like a priest.

Aaron and his sons could not attend funerals for friends, they could only attend to their close family members. It is still that way for Kohanim to this day. Why is that? What is it about a funeral that makes it so that Kohanim cannot go? Do you think that rule is fair or not?
The families of the priests had to live by certain rules, too. Can you think of anyone you know who has to live their life a certain way because of what their mom or dad does for a living? Is that fair? What are some professions today that affect the whole family and the way they live? If it is going to affect the whole family, why do you think people decide to go into those professions today?
What would it be like to be the child of the President of the United States? What would it be like to be the child of the Chief Rabbi of Israel? Is it as difficult for these families as it was for Aaron's or is it easier? Why?
Why is it that we hear about Aaron's sons but we don't hear anything about Moshe's kids? Do you know who Moshe's kids were? Do you know their names? Have you ever heard anything about them? Did they have any special restrictions on them? Why or why not?
In 23:22 we are told, "One manner of law shall you have for the stranger as well as for native (the Israelites); for I am the Lord your God." What does this mean? Why does everyone have to live under the same laws? Why not have one set of laws for the people who are a part of your group and another set for the people who join later on? What kinds of problems might that cause?