Parsha
Date: 27.4.26 / 10 Iyar 5786. This corresponds to the 25th day of the Omer (Netzach sheb'Netzach) and falls within the Hebrew month of Iyar in the year 5786.
Parsha: Emor: Leviticus 21:1-15
🌾 Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1–15)
📖 What Happens in This Part of the Parsha?
In this part of Parashat Emor, Hashem teaches special rules for the Kohanim (priests). The Kohanim were the people who served Hashem in the Mishkan (and later the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple).
Because their job was very holy, they had extra responsibilities.
👨🦳 Who Are the Kohanim?
The Kohanim are descendants of Aharon, Moshe’s brother.
They helped bring sacrifices and cared for holy things.
⚖️ Special Rules for the Kohanim
Hashem gives Moshe rules that the Kohanim must follow:
🕊️ Rules About Death
Kohanim usually may not touch a dead body, because death makes a person ritually impure.
They are allowed to be near close family members who pass away, such as parents or siblings.
💍 Rules About Marriage
Kohanim must choose their wives carefully.
They are told to marry someone who helps keep their home holy and respectful.
👑 The Kohen Gadol (High Priest)
The Kohen Gadol has even stricter rules.
He must always wear special clothes and stay very focused on his holy job.
He may not become impure even for close family members.
This teaches how important his role is.
⭐ Key Learning Points for Children
1️⃣ Being Special Means More Responsibility
The Kohanim were chosen for a special job, but that meant they had more rules to follow, not fewer.
2️⃣ Holiness Is About How We Act
Being holy doesn’t mean being perfect—it means:
Making good choices
Showing respect
Acting carefully because what we do matters
3️⃣ Everyone Has Their Own Role
Not everyone was a Kohen, and that’s okay!
Each person has their own way to serve Hashem
Some people lead, some help, some learn, and some teach
4️⃣ Respect for Life
The rules about death remind us that life is precious and deserves respect.
✅ Takeaway Summary
Parashat Emor teaches us about the special rules for the Kohanim.
The Kohanim had important jobs serving Hashem and needed to live in a careful, holy way.
With special roles come extra responsibilities.
We learn that every Jew can bring holiness into the world by acting kindly, responsibly, and respectfully.
💡 Big Idea:
Being chosen doesn’t mean being better—it means being more careful to do what’s right.
Thought of Rabbi Sacks
Rabbi Sacks explains that Parashat Emor is all about holiness — and that holiness comes in different forms.
✨ Two Kinds of Holiness
Rabbi Sacks says that this parsha teaches us about:
Holy people – like the Kohanim
Holy time – like Shabbat and the Jewish festivals
In the part you asked about (Vayikra 21:1–15), the Torah focuses on holy people, especially the Kohanim. [rabbisacks.org]
🧑⚖️ Why Do the Kohanim Have More Rules?
Rabbi Sacks explains something very important:
Holiness is not about being better than others.
It is about having more responsibility.
Because the Kohanim worked close to Hashem in the Mishkan:
They had to be extra careful about what they did
Their rules helped them stay focused on their special job [rabbisacks.org]
This teaches children that:
Being chosen for a job doesn’t mean you are more important
It means you must act more carefully and thoughtfully
🕊️ Life, Death, and Caring for Others
Rabbi Sacks explains that the rules about not touching the dead are not about being unkind.
Instead, they teach that:
Serving Hashem means staying close to life
Life is precious and should be protected and respected [rabbisacks.org]
That is why:
Regular Kohanim may become impure only for close family
The Kohen Gadol has even stricter rules
👑 The Kohen Gadol: A Living Example
Rabbi Sacks says the Kohen Gadol reminds us that:
A leader’s behaviour matters all the time
Other people learn by watching what leaders do [rabbisacks.org]
For children, this means:
When people look up to you, your choices help others learn what is right
🧠 Big Idea Rabbi Sacks Wants Children to Remember
Rabbi Sacks often teaches that Judaism turns rules into meaning.
In Parashat Emor, the rules teach us:
Holiness is something we practise, not something we are born with
Everyday actions can bring Hashem into the world
Each person has a role, and every role matters [rabbisacks.org]
✅ Child-Friendly Takeaway
Rabbi Sacks’ message for children:
Some people have special jobs, and that means more responsibility
Being holy means making careful, kind choices every day
You don’t have to be a Kohen to bring holiness into your life
What you do matters, especially when others look up to you
🌟 In simple words:
Holiness is not about being special — it’s about acting responsibly.
Around the Shabbat Table
🕯️ 1. Question:
Why do the Kohanim have more rules than other people? Is that fair?
Suggested Answer:
The Kohanim had a very special job serving Hashem in the Mishkan and later in the Beit HaMikdash. Because their job was so important, they had more responsibility. It doesn’t mean they were better than anyone else—it means they had to be more careful. Just like a team captain or teacher has more rules because others depend on them, the Kohanim were role models for the people.
🕯️ 2. Question:
What does this parsha teach us about being “holy” in our own lives?
Suggested Answer:
The parsha shows us that holiness is not about wearing special clothes or being famous. It’s about how we behave every day. When we speak kindly, tell the truth, help others, and make good choices, we are bringing holiness into the world. Everyone can be holy in their own way.
🕯️ 3. Question:
Why do you think the Torah wants leaders, like the Kohen Gadol, to be extra careful all the time?
Suggested Answer:
Because leaders are always being watched. When a leader behaves well, it helps others learn what is right. The Torah teaches that being a leader means setting a good example—even when it’s hard. This reminds us that when others look up to us, our actions matter even more.
🌟 Shabbat Table Takeaway
With special roles come special responsibilities—and every person, no matter their role, can add holiness to the world through their choices.
Parsha summary adapted from Chabad.org and Rabbi Sacks Legacy
The weekly mitzvot are adapted from the PAJES Primary Parashat Hashavua Curriculum, and form the basis of the school's PSHE curriculum for all pupils alongside the Torah, Well Being and Me curriculum.