Parashat Emor
Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23
By Torah Blogger, Jen Smith
Parashat Emor offers detailed instructions about holiness including who may serve as priest, how to approach sacred time, and how to honor the festivals of Shabbat, Passover, and Sukkot. It’s a portion that sets boundaries and structures like who is in, who is out, and when to make offerings. At first glance, it feels governed by the aspect of God we call Elohim, King of Kings. Elohim is the force that creates worlds and sustains cosmic law.
However, hidden beneath this structure is an intimate, glowing presence called the Shekhinah, the indwelling Divine that deeply favors connection than all mighty control.
In Jewish mysticism, the Shekhinah and Elohim are only two aspects of Adonai Echad – the One God; Elohim is the name that represents God’s power, justice, and distance. It’s the voice that created the universe and split the sea. Shekhinah, by contrast, is the divine presence that comes close. She’s the whisper of holiness in our homes, the comfort in moments of grief, the warmth in community. Elohim is the architect of sacred time, Shekhinah is the soul that fills it – one is transcendent, one is immanent. Elohim builds galaxies and the Shekhinah builds homes. This mystical tension between fire and intimacy, and between transcendence and presence, leads us directly into Lag BaOmer.
Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, a short break in a season of mourning. For many, it’s a day of bonfires, music, and joy, though not for its own sake. It is a joy that can be experienced only as it emerges from struggle.
The bonfire of Lag BaOmer is a symbol reminding us that yes, fire can destroy, but it can also connect. The same fire lit the menorah in the Temple, and bakes our challah, keeps us warm, and gives us light. Fire, much like holiness, depends on how we hold and use it.
Emor teaches us how to mark sacred time and Lag BaOmer reminds us to find meaning within that pause. The voice of Elohim calls us to create order, and the presence of the Shekhinah calls us to create connection. Emor prompts us to consider: Where in my life do I need more structure? And how do I keep the fire of meaning lit in my everyday life?
The juxtaposition of Emor and Lag BaOmer reminds us that we need both. We need the rhythm and rigor of sacred structure, and we need the spontaneous spark of spiritual intimacy. We need the boundaries that protect, and we need the sparks and fires that inspire. Elohim gives us law, and the Shekhinah gives us love. One without the other is incomplete.
In our modern lives, so often shaped by deadlines, analytics, and productivity (the energy of Elohim) it is even more important to remember to create space for the Shekhinah. Light candles not just to mark time, but to sanctify it. Make space not just for ritual, but for ultimate presence. Sit around the bonfire not only to celebrate, but also to remember that we are never alone in the dark.
On a different note, I began writing for the Torah blog one year ago when I submitted my copy for Emor 5784. A year later, this blog has become a sort of refuge for my swirling thoughts on God. Thank you for reading along with me! If you would like me to expand on any topics or if you’d like to offer your perspective, please email me at jsmith@bethami.org. After all, Rabbi Ben Zoma would say “Who is wise? The one who learns from everyone” (Pirkei Avot 4:1). 😊